The struggle of a PhD student

In previous blog posts, we discussed the many positives of pursuing a doctoral degree: competitive salary, work-life balance, the opportunity to working for your passion, high degree of flexibility, and exciting trips for conferences and exchanges. However, in this post, I would like to discuss the not-so-bright side of doing a PhD.

As I approach my third and final year, the workload seems to have increased dramatically. I have been working far beyond normal hours, and even though it does not bother me much, my friends and family are growing concerned. Research shows that one in three PhD students is at a risk of mental health issues, particularly depression (Friedrich et al., 2023; Levecque et al., 2017) and I can see the reasons. I have seen and experienced the struggles: meeting multiple deadlines, and I can see why. I have seen and experienced the struggle of meeting multiple deadlines, dealing with unexpected changes in research plans, battling imposter syndrome, and coping with a lack of support—especially in the later stages of doctoral studies.

The most common stressors include accumulated stress, self-doubt, job insecurity, and low job satisfaction (Friedrich et al., 2023). Unfortunately, these common issues are often overlooked by universities and society. Research suggests that both policymakers and universities need to make efforts to address and mitigate this problem (Levecque et al., 2017). Policymakers should raise awareness and improve policies regarding working conditions, while universities should assess and monitor mental health risks within their institutions.

This blog post aims to raise awareness about the mental health challenges of pursuing a doctoral degree. I have found that having hobbies, exercising, and a supportive social circle have been invaluable in helping me navigate the more challenging times.

An article by Dhaneswara Al Amien.

References

• Friedrich, J., Bareis, A., Bross, M., Bürger, Z., Rodríguez, Á. C., Effenberger, N., Kleinhansl, M., Kremer, F., & Schröder, C. (2023). “How is your thesis going?”–Ph.D. students’ perspectives on mental health and stress in academia. PLoS ONE, 18(7 July), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288103Levecque, K., Anseel, F., De
• Beuckelaer, A., Van der Heyden, J., & Gisle, L. (2017). Work organization and mental health problems in PhD students. Research Policy, 46(4), 868–879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2017.02.008