Illuminating Mental Health Headwinds in Management Doctoral Programs

As a doctoral student, did you ever suffer from depression, anxiety, or feel like an imposter? Surprisingly, management scholars have limited understanding of the mental health struggles associated with pursuing a doctorate. To investigate this important topic, our study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, impostor syndrome, and perceived levels of social support among doctoral students. Results indicate that these students are far more likely than the general population to suffer from depression and anxiety. They also experience high levels of impostor syndrome and perceive non-academic sources of social support more favorably. Recommendations for doctoral programs are discussed.