Psychology Doctoral Program Experiences and Student Well-Being, Mental Health, and Optimism During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT: In a sample of 916 doctoral students from 144 universities across the United States, we examined psychology graduate students' experiences in their programs, as well as their mental health, well-being, and optimism during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a path model, we found that students' psychological experiences in their programs (i.e., social belonging, threat, and challenge) were associated with better mental health and well-being, which in turn was associated with greater optimism about the future during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings were also corroborated in students' open-ended responses regarding how COVID-19 has impacted their lives. Findings varied by racial, gender, and sexual identities, as racial minorities, LGBTQ+ students, and women expressed more negative p

SUBMITTER: Syropoulos S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8460876 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature