Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41988878›Full record

ArticleAlzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association2026

Factors associated with the mental health of early-career dementia researchers: An international cross-sectional survey.

Bryony Waters-Harvey, Pascale Heins, Eithne Heffernan, Anika Wuestefeld, C Elizabeth Shaaban, Adam Smith, Royhaan Folarin, Sara Laureen Bartels

Erratum issuedAbstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Bryony Waters-HarveyNational Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1216-0867
Pascale HeinsDepartment of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology and Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Eithne HeffernanNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK.
Anika WuestefeldClinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
C Elizabeth ShaabanDepartment of Health Promotion and Development, School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Adam SmithInstitute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
Royhaan FolarinDivision of Biomedical Sciences, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), Butaro, Rwanda.
Sara Laureen BartelsDepartment of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology and Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Funding

Research Education ComponentP30AG066468 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI Julia K Kofler · 2020 to 2026
$29.4M
Population neuroscience of sex differences in the Alzheimer's disease biomarker cascade: The role of cerebral small vessel diseaseK01AG071849 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI C. Elizabeth Shaaban · 2022 to 2026
$629k
National Institute for Health and Care ResearchNIA NIH HHS K01 AG071849NIA NIH HHS P30 AG066468
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEarly-career researchers (ECRs) play a vital role in scientific progress; however, academic environments and personal characteristics may influence their mental health and capacity to work. This study explored factors associated with mental health among ECRs in dementia research (ECDRs).

methodsWe analyzed data from an international cross-sectional survey of 283 ECDRs using a logistic regression to examine associations between demographic, work-related, and psychosocial factors and self-reported mental health conditions. Gender interactions were tested, and significant variables were included in a multivariable model.

resultsIn this sample, imposter syndrome (odds ratio [OR] = 13.04), financial problems (OR = 3.08), being aged 25 to 34 years (OR = 3.69), and identifying as non-heterosexual (OR = 4.10) were significantly associated with higher odds of reporting a mental health condition. No significant gender interactions were identified. DISCUSSION: Mental health among ECDRs appears particularly affected by imposter syndrome, financial strain, age, and sexual orientation. Targeted support addressing these factors may help sustain the dementia research workforce.

Indexed as

DementiaMental HealthResearch PersonnelAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleSurveys and Questionnairesacademic researcherscross‐sectional surveydementiaearly career researchermental healthpsychosocial factorswell‐being

Identifiers

PMID41988878
PMCPMC13084526

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.