Cassie M Hazell1, Laura Chapman2, Sophie F Valeix3, Paul Roberts4, Jeremy E Niven5, Clio Berry6. 1. School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6UW, UK. 2. School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QJ, UK. 3. Research and Enterprise, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH, UK. 4. Centre for Higher Education and Equity Research, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RH, UK. 5. School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK. 6. Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School and School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PH, UK. c.berry@sussex.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Data from studies with undergraduate and postgraduate taught students suggest that they are at an increased risk of having mental health problems, compared to the general population. By contrast, the literature on doctoral researchers (DRs) is far more disparate and unclear. There is a need to bring together current findings and identify what questions still need to be answered. METHODS: We conducted a mixed methods systematic review to summarise the research on doctoral researchers' (DRs) mental health. Our search revealed 52 articles that were included in this review. RESULTS: The results of our meta-analysis found that DRs reported significantly higher stress levels compared with population norm data. Using meta-analyses and meta-synthesis techniques, we found the risk factors with the strongest evidence base were isolation and identifying as female. Social support, viewing the PhD as a process, a positive student-supervisor relationship and engaging in self-care were the most well-established protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified a critical need for researchers to better coordinate data collection to aid future reviews and allow for clinically meaningful conclusions to be drawn. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration CRD42018092867.
BACKGROUND: Data from studies with undergraduate and postgraduate taught students suggest that they are at an increased risk of having mental health problems, compared to the general population. By contrast, the literature on doctoral researchers (DRs) is far more disparate and unclear. There is a need to bring together current findings and identify what questions still need to be answered. METHODS: We conducted a mixed methods systematic review to summarise the research on doctoral researchers' (DRs) mental health. Our search revealed 52 articles that were included in this review. RESULTS: The results of our meta-analysis found that DRs reported significantly higher stress levels compared with population norm data. Using meta-analyses and meta-synthesis techniques, we found the risk factors with the strongest evidence base were isolation and identifying as female. Social support, viewing the PhD as a process, a positive student-supervisor relationship and engaging in self-care were the most well-established protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified a critical need for researchers to better coordinate data collection to aid future reviews and allow for clinically meaningful conclusions to be drawn. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration CRD42018092867.
Authors: Randy P Auerbach; Philippe Mortier; Ronny Bruffaerts; Jordi Alonso; Corina Benjet; Pim Cuijpers; Koen Demyttenaere; David D Ebert; Jennifer Greif Green; Penelope Hasking; Elaine Murray; Matthew K Nock; Stephanie Pinder-Amaker; Nancy A Sampson; Dan J Stein; Gemma Vilagut; Alan M Zaslavsky; Ronald C Kessler Journal: J Abnorm Psychol Date: 2018-09-13
Authors: Soraya Seedat; Kate Margaret Scott; Matthias C Angermeyer; Patricia Berglund; Evelyn J Bromet; Traolach S Brugha; Koen Demyttenaere; Giovanni de Girolamo; Josep Maria Haro; Robert Jin; Elie G Karam; Viviane Kovess-Masfety; Daphna Levinson; Maria Elena Medina Mora; Yutaka Ono; Johan Ormel; Beth-Ellen Pennell; Jose Posada-Villa; Nancy A Sampson; David Williams; Ronald C Kessler Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 2009-07