Exploring the wellbeing and resilience of postgraduate researchers

ABSTRACT

Much research around student mental health focuses on undergraduate students. However, recent research suggests that depression and anxiety are just as prevalent among postgraduate researchers (PGRs). This study explores the experience of PGRs in the UK (N = 50), their wellbeing and resilience. The results of the survey indicated that the participants had significantly lower wellbeing and resilience levels in comparison to the general population. The analysis of qualitative survey responses highlighted five factors that affected the participants’ perceived wellbeing: supervision, expectations, support, balance, and coping. A benefit of the current study is that it investigates a whole range of known stressors in contrast to previous research that tends to focus on one or a small number of factors. The study puts forward several key recommendations for supervisors and universities. The authors recommend that supervisors and doctoral schools encourage peer support networks and open dialogue with students around the reality of PGR study, to manage expectations and reduce self-doubt. Further research should look to investigate in more detail the challenges faced by PGRs across the whole journey to develop beneficial wellbeing interventions that are aligned to PGRs’ specific needs.

KEYWORDS:

• Wellbeing
• resilience
• postgraduate research
• doctoral researchers
• higher education
• student mental health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data sets associated with this research will be deposited in the Bournemouth Online Research Data Repository (BORDaR) https://bordar.bournemouth.ac.uk/

Additional information

Funding

The PhD research project was funded by Bournemouth University. This may not need to be disclosed as there is no specific grant number.

Notes on contributors

Chloe Casey

Chloe Casey is a lecturer in nutrition and psychology at Bournemouth University. Her PhD focuses on the mental wellbeing of postgraduate research students (PGRs).

Orlanda Harvey

Orlanda Harvey recently completed my PhD exploring men’s recreational use of Androgenic Anabolic Steroid Use. Orlanda is now a part-time lecturer in Social Work, specialising in Developing Professional Relationships.

Julia Taylor

Julia Taylor has a PhD in Media History. At Bournemouth University, she is Head of the Doctoral College and is responsible for the University’s portfolio of postgraduate research degrees. Current research interests include postgraduate student mental health and academic impact, and the evaluation of postgraduate student learning.

Fiona Knight

Fiona Knight has a PhD in Mineralogy & Geochemistry. At Bournemouth University, she is Head of the Doctoral College and is responsible for the University’s portfolio of postgraduate research degrees. Fiona’s current research interests include postgraduate student mental health and well-being, the evaluation of postgraduate student learning, and postgraduate supervisory relationships.

Steven Trenoweth

Steven Trenoweth has been a mental health nurse, working in a wide variety of mental health settings before entering higher education in 2003. He is currently a Senior Lecturer at Bournemouth University.