Abstract

OBJECTIVE. To explore how gender and leadership in the healthcare sector impact workers’ mental health. METHOD. A systematic review was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed (2012–2022) in English and Spanish, including eight empirical studies. RESULTS. Mainly from Europe and Canada, the studies highlighted the prevalence of workplace violence linked to destructive leadership and gender barriers, such as dispro-portionate domestic workloads, sexism, and discrimination. Female workers reported higher rates of anxiety, stress, and emotional exhaustion, particularly during the pandemic, when they assumed additional caregiving roles. CONCLUSION. Gender significantly influences leadership and mental health, underscoring the need for prevention policies, gender-focused leadership training, and the integration of this perspective into organizational practices and research. © 2025, Escuela de Enfermeria Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. All rights reserved.