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A systematic review and a comprehensive approach to PhD students' wellbeing
Abstract
The pursuit of a doctoral degree is a challenging process that can have a negative impact on the wellbeing of PhD students. Therefore, the aim here is to offer a systematic review of the current state of the literature on wellbeing among PhD students and the variables it involves in order to build an integrative model that will enrich future research. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) methodology for systematic reviews has been used to lay out the process in a flow diagram. We systematically review studies up to 2021 ( N = 38) published on the Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. The results show the current state of the literature on wellbeing in PhD students, the characteristics of the studies (location, study design, and sample), how the literature defines the concept, the variables involved, the study limitations, and future perspectives to improve the quality of life of doctoral students. Finally, a comprehensive approach to the topic is presented in an integrative model that encompasses all variables identified in the literature and offers a guide for future research.
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“A broader systematic evaluation of other relevant mental health issues remains lacking, including clinically defined syndromes such as social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), personality disorders, eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, and burnout, as well as common symptoms of psychological”
From Prevalence and severity of mental health problems in early-career researchers: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2026) · cites this paper as [42]
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“Systematic and narrative reviews highlight additional sample-level moderators, including protective and risk factors35–42. These include financial challenges43, self-doubt44, and social and academic loneliness14,45 as risk factors, and suggest social support, a positive and future-oriented mindset, and self-care14 as potential protective factors.”
From Prevalence and severity of mental health problems in early-career researchers: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2026) · cites this paper as [42]
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Optimizing well-being: The empirical encounter of two traditions.
Keyes, C. L. M., Shmotkin, D., & Ryff, C. D. (2002) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.82.6.1007 · Cited by 3,322
The World Mental Health Report: Transforming mental health for all
Freeman, M. (2022) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.21018 · Cited by 1,472
Work organization and mental health problems in PhD students
Levecque, K., Anseel, F., De Beuckelaer, A., Van der Heyden, J., & Gisle, L. (2017) · Research Policy · doi:10.1016/j.respol.2017.02.008 · Cited by 1,182
Sverdlik, A., C. Hall, N., McAlpine, L., & Hubbard, K. (2018) · International Journal of Doctoral Studies · doi:10.28945/4113 · Cited by 616
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Kushlev, K., Drummond, D. M., & Diener, E. (2020) · Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being · doi:10.1111/aphw.12178 · Cited by 122
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Stubb, J., Pyhältö, K., & Lonka, K. (2012) · Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research · doi:10.1080/00313831.2011.599422 · Cited by 100
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Dreisoerner, A., Goetz, V., Frohnmayer, D., Tran, U. S., Voracek, M., & Nater, U. M. (2026) · Nature Human Behaviour · doi:10.1038/s41562-026-02505-5 · Cited by 2
Metadata
- Authors
- Martínez‐García, I., De Witte, H., García‐Martínez, J., & Cano‐García, F. J.
- Venue
- Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2024-04-12
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1565-1583
- ISSN
- 1758-0846
- 1758-0854
- Cited by
- 21
- References
- 6
- Language
- en
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