Personal, social and relational predictors of UK postgraduate researcher mental health problems

Berry, C., Niven J.E. and Hazell, C.M. 2021. Personal, social and relational predictors of UK postgraduate researcher mental health problems. BJPsych Open. 7 (6), p. e205. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.1041

TitlePersonal, social and relational predictors of UK postgraduate researcher mental health problems
TypeJournal article
AuthorsBerry, C., Niven J.E. and Hazell, C.M.
Abstract

Background
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.

JournalBJPsych Open
Journal citation7 (6), p. e205
Year2021
PublisherCambridge University Press
Publisher's version
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.1041
Publication dates
Published15 Nov 2021

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