Ponung Nonang and Sandeep
Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh
Pages:150-161
The pursuit of a PhD degree, the highest academic qualification attainable, has drawn
attention to the mental health challenges experienced by students. While concerns
about student well-being in higher education have been prevalent, the focus has primarily
been on undergraduate and master’s levels. A PhD program, distinct from other
postgraduate studies, presents unique considerations. Challenges such as social
isolation, waning enthusiasm, and difficulties in communication with supervisors are
frequently voiced by PhD students. Alarming rates of depression and anxiety are reported
among PhD scholars, making it a more prevalent issue than average. The implications
of poor well-being for PhD students are significant, as their contributions greatly impact
university research output. The study’s objectives encompass exploring gender
differences in mental health and well-being, investigating the relationship between mental
health and well-being among scholars, and examining predictors of scholars’ wellbeing. Hypotheses include significant gender differences in mental health and wellbeing, a notable relationship between mental health and well-being among scholars,
and mental health being a predictor of scholars’ well-being. The research findings
underscore the crucial roles that supervisors, higher education institutions and support
services, play in addressing mental health and well-being challenges faced by PhD
scholars.