Mental Health Exploration and Variables Associated with Young Health Professionals in Early Childhood Care Centers: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Early childhood care (ECC) represents a vital service for the families two supports; however, research on the experiences of young professionals working in this field is lacking. The nature of the work is inherently difficult due to lengthy bureaucratic procedures, limited flexibility to adapt services to individual needs, and a lack of financial and human resources. Background/Objectives: This systematic review is to analyze the existence of scientific literature related to mental health and protective and risk factors in these young professionals. Methods: The PRISMA methodology and a comparative analysis of the selected articles were used, incorporating sources from major scientific databases, such as Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycInfo. Results: A total of 19,943 articles were identified, with a striking 0% specifically addressing early childhood intervention. Only 13 of the articles were selected for the analysis of mental health among young healthcare professionals. Conclusions: The literature reviewed highlights risk factors such as depression, anxiety, and stress among health professionals, as well as protective factors like resilience, social support, empathy and the working conditions themselves (working method, working hours, pay, professional value of the workers themselves, administrative workload and opportunities for teamwork). This study is valuable for establishing a scientific foundation for this population and for enhancing its positive characteristics.