Burnout and Mental Health Problems in Biomedical Doctoral Students

Abstract

Although burnout and mental health problems may adversely impact quality of scientific research, academic productivity, and attrition in biomedical doctoral training programs, very little research has been done on this topic. Recent studies have used brief survey methods to begin to explore burnout and mental health problems in biomedical doctoral students. In this pilot study, biomedical doctoral students ( N = 69; 12% of enrolled biomedical doctoral students at a large research institution’s school of medicine in the United States) were administered standardized psychiatric interviews and self-report questionnaires focused on dimensions of burnout, mental health symptoms, and academic outcomes. We discovered high levels of burnout, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, we identified that burnout was significantly associated with thoughts related to dropping out, subjective appraisal of employment opportunities, functional impairment due to a mental health problem, and having at least one current psychiatric disorder. These findings extend prior research indicating the presence of significant emotional health challenges doctoral students in biomedical graduate programs face involving high burnout and difficulties with the training environment. We outline several recommendations and next steps to programmatically understand and address these emerging emotional wellness concerns in biomedical doctoral students.

Applying the Stress Process Model to Stress–Burnout and Stress–Depression Relationships in Biomedical Doctoral Students: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

“…The results presented in Nagy et al. (2019) documented an important phenomenon that warrants immediate attention.…”

“…Upon participant-initiated contact, the study coordinator scheduled a study visit. For additional details on study design and study flow, refer to Nagy et al. (2019).…”

“…To this end, the present study represents a secondary analysis of data derived from a sample of biomedical doctoral students ( n = 69). Our primary analyses (Nagy et al. , 2019) characterized and assessed the prevalence of problems related to burnout and mental health, as well as associations among burnout, mental health, academic variables, and sociodemographic variables for this population.…”

Actionable recommendations from trainees to improve science training

“…This reform gridlock and aversion to change has led to continued and widespread discontent among trainees. Trainee-led strikes and protests in the United States this past year (such as those at Harvard, UW-Madison, and the UC system; Latimer and Horton, 2020 ) and reports of dismal trainee mental health ( Levecque et al, 2017 ; Nagy et al, 2019 ) are just two indicators of the current crisis. As recent and current trainees, we ask readers to think about the cost of graduate students and postdocs leaving the academic workforce en masse, particularly when most leaving are from underrepresented backgrounds.…”

“…Unfortunately, a lack of buy-in by departmental and institutional leadership has led to no large-scale, concrete actions. Because of this, issues such as trainee burnout and systemic inequities remain unaddressed and widely spread ( Ginther et al, 2011 ; Gibbs et al, 2016 ; Levecque et al, 2017 ; Nagy et al, 2019 ).…”