Review of the Literature

Introduction

The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her abilities, cannot cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can make a contribution to his or her community” (World Health Organization, 2018, para. 2). What happens when individuals cannot cope with the added stresses of their lives? The mental health effects and psychological distress of being overworked and underpaid in a stressful, high-paced work environment, such as a restaurant, have been apparent predominantly in younger adults, more often in males. In undertaking this current study regarding mental health in the restaurant industry and the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the researchers draw upon a collection of prior research. This section examines this literature and weighs the contributions and limitations of each article.