A Longitudinal Study of Mental Wellbeing in Students in Aotearoa New Zealand Who Transitioned Into PhD Study

Abstract

Journal editorials, career features, and the popular press commonly talk of a graduate student mental health crisis. To date, studies on graduate student mental health have employed cross-sectional designs, limiting any causal conclusions regarding the relationship between entry into graduate study and mental health. Here, we draw on data from a longitudinal study of undergraduate students in Aotearoa New Zealand, allowing us to compare participants who did, and did not, transition into PhD study following the completion of their undergraduate degree. Using multilevel Bayesian regression, we identified a difference in mental wellbeing between those who entered PhD study and those who did not. This difference, however, was largely due to those not entering PhD study displaying an increase in mental wellbeing. Participants that entered PhD study displayed a small decrease in mental wellbeing, with the posterior distribution of the simple effect heavily overlapping zero. This latter finding was orders of magnitude smaller than one might expect based on previous cross-sectional research and provides an important message; that a marked drop in mental health is not an inevitable consequence of entering graduate study.

Social support resilience as a protective mental health factor in postgraduate researchers’ experiences: a longitudinal analysis

“…The first key finding was that the mental health of PGRs stayed relatively stable across time, as PGR students did not show an elevation of anxiety or depression over a six-month period and did not appear more likely to meet a clinically significant threshold of "caseness" at six months relative to baseline. Whilst a statistically significant decrease was found in well-being over time, this was small and similar to that reported during the transition from undergraduate into graduate studies (Scarf et al, 2021).…”

“…friends, peers and faculty members) (Pervez et al , 2021). Framing psychological resilience as a set of resources that can be fostered and supported (Jacelon, 1997; Mizuno et al , 2016; Sher, 2019; Waugh and Koster, 2015; Levine, 2003; Gooding et al , 2022) is both positive and pragmatic in an action-oriented sense, as it cultivates a sense of responsibility to be taken by individuals themselves but also by organisations and communities (Hanson and Gottesman, 2012). Hence, it is exculpating for individuals and ensures workplaces, in this case higher education institutions (HEIs), are accountable.…”

“…More recently, Winter et al (2021) conducted a study of undergraduates, only some of whom went on to graduate study programs. Students embarking on PhD study had less well-being markers compared to those who did not choose this route (Winter et al , 2021). No study has yet prospectively examined mental health, specifically levels of anxiety, depression and well-being, over time in already-registered PGR students.…”

“…Exceptions include the work of Rosal and colleagues, who found that in US medical students, gender and stress predicted increases in depression after two years of study (Rosal et al, 1997). More recently, Winter et al (2021) conducted a study of undergraduates, only some of whom went on to graduate study programs. Students embarking on PhD study had less well-being markers compared to those who did not choose this route (Winter et al, 2021).…”

Prevalence and underlying factors of depressive disorders among PhD students: a mixed-method study in the Indian context

“…Depressive disorders among university students are found to be associated with age, gender, marital status, family problems, social support, use of substance abuse, monetary problems, field of study, academic achievements, levels of education, social support, genetic disposition and risky sexual behavior (Awan, 2019). However, in case of PhD students, extended working hours, academic stress, supervisory support, financial insecurities and future uncertainties are commonly reported factors causing depressive disorders (Evans et al, 2018;Woolston, 2019;Winter et al, 2021).…”