The best examples of abstracts for literature reviews (with real samples)

Real examples of abstracts for literature reviews (short, simple, and realistic)

Let’s start with what you came for: concrete, readable examples of abstracts for literature reviews. Each one is around 180–230 words, which fits the range many journals and universities recommend. After each sample, I’ll briefly point out what it does well.

Example 1: Narrative literature review in psychology

Topic: Social media use and adolescent mental health

This literature review synthesizes research published between 2015 and 2024 on the relationship between social media use and mental health outcomes among adolescents aged 12–18. Drawing on 72 peer‑reviewed studies, the review examines patterns of association between social media intensity, platform type, and indicators of anxiety, depression, and subjective well‑being. The findings suggest a small but consistent correlation between heavy social media use and elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression, particularly among girls and LGBTQ+ youth. However, several longitudinal studies indicate that pre‑existing mental health vulnerabilities often predict later problematic use, complicating simple causal claims. The review also highlights protective factors, including digital literacy education, parental mediation, and positive online communities, which are associated with improved well‑being. Methodological limitations across the literature include reliance on self‑report measures, cross‑sectional designs, and inconsistent definitions of “problematic use.” The review concludes that social media’s impact on adolescent mental health is conditional rather than uniformly harmful and recommends that future research prioritize longitudinal, multi‑method designs and clearer operationalization of key constructs.

Why this works: It states the time frame, population, number of studies, main patterns, limitations, and future directions—everything a good example of a psychology abstract for a literature review should do.

Example 2: Structured abstract for a nursing literature review

Topic: Nurse burnout during and after COVID‑19

Background: Nurse burnout increased significantly during the COVID‑19 pandemic, with implications for patient safety and workforce retention.
Objective: This literature review summarizes evidence on the prevalence, risk factors, and mitigation strategies for nurse burnout in acute care settings from 2020 to 2024.
Methods: A systematic search of CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO identified 54 empirical studies examining burnout among hospital‑based nurses in North America and Europe. Studies were appraised using standardized quality checklists.
Results: Most studies reported high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, particularly in intensive care and emergency units. Consistent risk factors included staffing shortages, extended shifts, moral distress, and inadequate organizational support. Interventions that combined individual‑level strategies (mindfulness training, peer support) with system‑level changes (safe staffing ratios, flexible scheduling, access to mental health services) showed the strongest and most sustained reductions in burnout. However, evidence for long‑term effectiveness remains limited by short follow‑up periods and non‑randomized designs.
Conclusions: The best examples of effective burnout interventions address both individual coping and organizational conditions. Health systems should prioritize multi‑level strategies and invest in longitudinal evaluation.

Why this works: Structured headings make this an easy example of a nursing abstract for a literature review to copy for assignments or journal submissions that require labeled sections.

Example 3: Education literature review abstract (teacher feedback)

Topic: Written feedback and student writing achievement

This literature review analyzes empirical studies on written teacher feedback in K–12 English language arts classrooms and its relationship to student writing achievement. The review includes 38 studies published between 2000 and 2023, spanning the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Examples include quasi‑experimental classroom interventions, large‑scale assessment studies, and qualitative analyses of feedback practices. Across the literature, specific, process‑oriented feedback is consistently associated with improved writing quality, while purely evaluative comments (e.g., grades without explanation) show minimal impact. Studies also indicate that students benefit when feedback is timely, focused on a small number of targets, and accompanied by opportunities for revision. However, the best examples of effective feedback are embedded in ongoing instructional cycles rather than isolated comments on final drafts. Research on feedback for multilingual learners highlights the added value of explicit language support. The review identifies gaps related to digital feedback tools, equity in feedback distribution, and long‑term effects on student motivation. Implications for practice include professional development on feedback strategies and integration of formative assessment into everyday instruction.

Why this works: Notice how it signals geography, time frame, study types, and practical implications. It’s a clear example of how to write an abstract for an education literature review that still sounds human.

Example 4: Business/management literature review abstract

Topic: Remote work and employee productivity

This literature review synthesizes research on remote work and employee productivity in knowledge‑based industries from 2010 to 2024, with particular attention to post‑pandemic trends. Drawing on 61 quantitative and qualitative studies, the review examines how remote and hybrid work arrangements influence self‑reported and objective productivity measures. Overall, the evidence suggests small positive productivity gains for many employees under flexible remote models, especially when workers have high task autonomy and access to reliable digital infrastructure. However, the benefits are uneven: some studies report declines in collaboration quality, innovation, and onboarding effectiveness for new employees. The best examples of high‑productivity remote teams feature clear performance metrics, intentional communication norms, and supportive managerial practices rather than constant monitoring. Methodological challenges include selection bias (as high‑performing employees are more likely to be granted remote options) and inconsistent productivity indicators across studies. The review concludes that remote work’s impact on productivity is context‑dependent and recommends more research on equity, long‑term career outcomes, and cross‑cultural differences in hybrid work design.

Why this works: It balances nuance (not “remote work is always good/bad”) with clear takeaways, which is exactly what strong examples of abstracts for literature reviews should aim for.

Example 5: Public health literature review abstract

Topic: Vaccine hesitancy in the United States

This literature review synthesizes research on vaccine hesitancy in the United States from 2010 to 2024, with a focus on childhood immunizations and COVID‑19 vaccines. The review includes 79 studies using survey, experimental, and qualitative designs. Examples include nationally representative surveys, community‑based focus groups, and randomized messaging interventions. Across the literature, vaccine hesitancy is associated with lower trust in government and health institutions, exposure to misinformation on social media, and political polarization. Demographic patterns vary by vaccine type, but consistently higher levels of hesitancy are observed among individuals with lower institutional trust and higher perceived discrimination, regardless of race or income. The best examples of effective communication strategies combine transparent risk information, acknowledgment of historical harms, and engagement with trusted community leaders. Evidence from randomized trials suggests that fear‑based messaging often backfires, while empathetic, dialogue‑based approaches show more promise. The review identifies a need for more longitudinal research and better integration of behavioral science insights from organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.

Why this works: It names methods, patterns, and practical implications, and it points toward authoritative sources like CDC and NIH without turning into a policy brief.

Example 6: Short, descriptive abstract for an undergraduate literature review

Topic: Sleep and academic performance in college students

This literature review examines the relationship between sleep patterns and academic performance among undergraduate students. Drawing on 26 peer‑reviewed studies published between 2005 and 2023, it summarizes findings on sleep duration, sleep quality, and irregular sleep schedules in relation to grade point average (GPA), exam performance, and self‑reported academic difficulties. Across studies, shorter sleep duration (fewer than 7 hours per night) and poor sleep quality are consistently associated with lower GPA and increased daytime sleepiness. Irregular sleep schedules, including “social jet lag” on weekends, are linked to reduced attention and memory. The best examples of intervention studies show that even modest improvements in sleep hygiene can lead to small but meaningful gains in academic performance. However, many studies rely on self‑reported sleep measures and cross‑sectional designs, limiting causal conclusions. The review suggests that universities should integrate sleep education into first‑year orientation and campus wellness programs.

Why this works: It’s short, clear, and realistic for a class paper. If you’re looking for simple examples of abstracts for literature reviews at the undergraduate level, this is a good model.

How to spot the best examples of abstracts for literature reviews

When you look back at these real examples, patterns start to pop out. The best examples of abstracts for literature reviews almost always do a few things:

They clearly state the topic and scope. Every example of a strong abstract tells you what was reviewed (population, time frame, type of studies). Notice phrases like “research published between 2015 and 2024” or “54 empirical studies in acute care settings.” That level of detail helps readers decide quickly if your review is relevant.

They summarize major themes or findings, not every tiny result. In the remote work abstract, you see “small positive productivity gains” and “uneven benefits,” not a list of all 61 study outcomes. The goal is to give the reader the big picture.

They mention methods briefly. Even in a literature review, it helps to say how you chose the studies: databases, years, or types of research. You don’t need a full methods section in the abstract, but a sentence or phrase signals that your review is systematic, not random.

They acknowledge limitations and gaps. Look at how multiple examples include phrases like “cross‑sectional designs,” “self‑report measures,” or “selection bias.” This shows you’re not blindly accepting every result.

They end with implications or recommendations. The best examples don’t just say “more research is needed” (the most overused line in academia). They point to what kind of research, which population, or what practice should change.

When you’re searching the web or databases for more examples of abstracts for literature reviews, use what you’ve just seen as a checklist. If an abstract hits these points, it’s probably worth saving as a model.

Writing your own abstract: learning from these examples

You can reverse‑engineer every example of a good abstract above into a simple writing process. Think of it as filling in four short paragraphs, even if you end up merging them into one.

Start with topic + scope. One sentence to name the topic, one to set boundaries. For instance, “This literature review examines X among Y population from YEAR to YEAR.” Many of the real examples of abstracts for literature reviews used that exact structure with different details.

Then shift to methods in one sentence. Mention databases, time frame, or number of studies. You don’t need all three, but at least one gives your reader confidence that this isn’t just a random Google search.

Next, summarize key themes or patterns. Think in terms of: what do most studies agree on? Where do they disagree? What are the strongest or most surprising findings? Look back at the vaccine hesitancy or social media examples; both highlight consistent associations and important nuances.

Finally, close with so what? This is where the best examples stand out. Do your findings suggest changes for teachers, clinicians, managers, or policymakers? Do they reveal gaps in the literature, like missing populations, outdated methods, or short time frames? Try to be specific instead of vague.

If you’re unsure how formal your abstract should be, check your assignment instructions or target journal. Some fields prefer structured abstracts with headings (like the nursing example), while others expect a single flowing paragraph.

Discipline‑specific patterns: examples include STEM, social sciences, and humanities

Different fields have slightly different expectations, and reviewing real examples of abstracts for literature reviews in your discipline can save you a lot of guesswork.

In STEM and health sciences, abstracts often look more structured. You’ll see headings like Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions, similar to the nurse burnout example above. Journals indexed in PubMed, for instance, frequently require this format. You can browse structured abstracts in databases like PubMed to see more real examples.

In the social sciences, abstracts usually stay in paragraph form but still touch on methods and implications for policy or practice. The psychology, education, and remote work samples here are fairly typical. Many social science journals hosted by universities (for example, those linked through Harvard Library) provide open abstracts you can study.

In the humanities, literature reviews are often embedded in longer essays, and abstracts may lean more conceptual than data‑heavy. You might see more emphasis on theoretical frameworks, debates, or historical shifts than on sample sizes or effect sizes. Even then, the underlying structure in the best examples is similar: topic, scope, main themes, and implications.

When in doubt, look up two or three journals in your field and skim several abstracts of literature review articles. Treat them as live, field‑specific examples of abstracts for literature reviews, not as mysterious artifacts.

FAQ: Short answers about abstracts for literature reviews

How long should an abstract for a literature review be?
Most guidelines recommend about 150–250 words. Some journals allow up to 300. Your syllabus or journal instructions should be your first stop; if they give a range, aim for the middle.

Do I need keywords under my abstract?
Many journals and some graduate programs ask for 3–6 keywords. Pick terms that match how people search for your topic, not just fancy jargon. For example, for the sleep and grades review, keywords might include “sleep,” “academic performance,” “college students,” and “GPA.”

Can you give another quick example of a very short abstract for a literature review?
Here’s a compact model (about 120 words):

This literature review synthesizes research on food insecurity among college students in the United States from 2008 to 2023. Analyzing 32 quantitative and qualitative studies, it examines prevalence estimates, associated risk factors, and reported academic and health outcomes. Across studies, food insecurity rates among college students are substantially higher than national household averages, with first‑generation, Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous students disproportionately affected. Food insecurity is consistently associated with lower GPA, higher stress, and poorer self‑reported health. The review highlights promising interventions, including campus food pantries and emergency aid programs, but notes limited evidence on long‑term effectiveness. It concludes by calling for standardized measurement tools and stronger partnerships between higher education institutions and community organizations.

Should an abstract include citations?
Generally, no. Abstracts almost never include in‑text citations or reference lists. You can mention organizations (like CDC or NIH) or landmark studies in the main paper, but keep the abstract citation‑free unless your journal explicitly allows it.

Is it okay to reuse wording from my abstract in my introduction?
Yes, to a point. Some overlap is normal, but try not to copy‑paste entire sentences. Think of the abstract as the movie trailer and the introduction as the opening scenes. Same story, slightly different telling.

If you keep these real examples of abstracts for literature reviews nearby while you write, you’ll start to see the patterns—and once you see them, writing your own abstract feels a lot less mysterious.