personal-social-and-relational-predictors-of-uk-postgraduate-researcher-mental-health-problems.pdf (465.03 kB)
Personal, social and relational predictors of UK postgraduate researcher mental health problems
Version 2 2023-06-12, 08:08
Version 1 2023-06-10, 01:23
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 08:08 authored by Clio BerryClio Berry, Jeremy NivenJeremy Niven, Cassie HazellBackground Emerging evidence demonstrates that postgraduate researchers have high rates of mental health problems. These problems are distressing, affect PhD studies, and have longer-term potential effects beyond the duration of the PhD. Yet large-scale studies of multiple risk and protective factors are rare. Aims We aimed to test the predictive validity of a comprehensive set of potential determinants of mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety and suicidality) among postgraduate researchers in the UK, including personal, study-related, and supervision characteristics. Method We used regression models applied to data obtained from a national online survey of UK postgraduate researchers (Understanding DOCtoral researcher mental health; U-DOC, 2018–2019) to test predictors of mental health symptoms. Results These models show that postgraduate researchers' mental health symptoms are predicted by demographic, occupational, psychological, social and supervisory relationship factors. Greater perfectionism, more impostor thoughts and reduced supervisory communion most strongly and consistently predict mental health symptoms. Conclusions Institutions training postgraduate researchers should focus interventions intended to improve depression, anxiety, suicidality, on self-beliefs and social connectedness. Moreover, supervisors should be provided with training that improves the degree of agency, and especially communion, in the relationships they form with postgraduate researchers.
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Publication status
- Published
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- Published version
Journal
BJPsych OpenISSN
2056-4724Publisher
Cambridge University PressExternal DOI
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6Volume
7Page range
1-11Article number
a205Department affiliated with
- Primary Care and Public Health Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2021-10-12First Open Access (FOA) Date
2021-11-17First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2021-10-11Usage metrics
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