What stressors and energizers do PhD students in medicine identify for their work

A qualitative inquiry

Bibliographic Data

ID21448353
AuthorsRashmi A Kusurkar (0000-0002-9382-0379, Amsterdam UMC, Research in Education, Faculty of Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, corresponding author), Ulviye Isik (0000-0003-0053-3846, Utrecht University and Center of Education and Training, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands), Stephanie M E van der Burgt (0000-0001-7188-1827, Center for Evidence Based Education, Location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), Anouk Wouters (0000-0002-6806-7573, Amsterdam UMC, Research in Education, Faculty of Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), Marianne Mak-van der Vossen (0000-0001-7810-6575, Department of General Practice, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Year2022
Volume44
Issue5
Pages559-563
Publication date2022-05-04
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedical Teacher (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0142-159X • E-ISSN: 1466-187X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0142159x.2021.2015308
PMID34905424
OpenAlexW4200410422
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited10

INTRODUCTION: Rising mental health issues is a global problem among PhD students. This study aimed to identify stressors and energizers in PhD work. METHODS: PhD students at a university medical center were asked to describe the top three stressors and energizers in their PhD work through a survey. The narrative answers were subjected to content analysis. RESULTS: Three hundred and eighty-six PhD students participated. We identified five overarching themes: Research is challenging, Resources can be limited, Recognizing the value of work, Experience of autonomy, and Relationships are key to success. We found positive (energizers) as well as negative (stressors) comments for each theme. DISCUSSION: Supportive supervision with open communication has been identified in the literature as the most important contributor to PhD student well-being, while work-life imbalance has been identified as the most important reason for psychological distress. With our study, we add energizers and stressors that fit into a theoretical framework (Self-determination theory). This helps to understand the problem better and provide specific recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal challenges, resources and supervision, autonomy and good relationships at work are perceived as energizers. Challenges in research beyond capability, limitations in resources, not being valued, autonomy restriction and poor relationships at work are perceived as stressors in PhD work

Autonomy · Medical education · Mental health · Narrative · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Sociology · Stressor · Work (physics) · Applied Psychology · Clinical Psychology · Doctoral Education Challenges and Solutions · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Medicine · Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology

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