Impact of Doctoral Student Training Process Fit on Doctoral Students’ Mental Health

Abstract

Background: Doctoral students have much higher risk of anxiety or depression than general population. Doctoral students worldwide are facing varying degrees of mental health risks. Method: Based on the survey data of 6,812 doctoral students worldwide in Nature in 2019, Probit and Logit models are used to explore the correlation between the fit of doctoral education and training process and the mental health of doctoral students. Results: (1) The training environment fit of doctoral students has a significant positive impact on their mental health. (2) The academic profession fit of doctoral students has a significant positive impact on their mental health. (3) The organizational culture fit of doctoral students has a significant positive impact on their mental health. (4) The financial support fit of doctoral students has a significant positive impact on their mental health. Conclusion: The higher the degree of doctoral students’ training environment fit, academic profession fit, organizational culture fit, and financial support fit, the lower the possibility of anxiety or depression among doctoral students. The current research results can help reveal extensive factors that affect the mental health of doctoral students, facilitate the planning and development of effective intervention measures by universities, improve the fit of the doctoral education and training process, improve the mental health of doctoral students, and boost academic excellence.