ArticlePloS one2022
Risks to mental health of higher degree by research (HDR) students during a global pandemic.
Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Prevalence and severity of mental health problems in early-career researchers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Nature human behaviour · 2026Pooled it
- Unravelling Factors Shaping International Students' Learning and Mental Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Integrative Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Review
- A study into the mental health of PhD students in Australia: investigating the determinants of depression, anxiety, and suicidality.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- A Greek Translation of the Brunel Mood Scale: Initial Validation among Exercise Participants and Inactive Adults.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Research disruption during PhD studies and its impact on mental health: Implications for research and university policy.PloS one · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected university students globally. Our study investigated mental health indicators among higher degree by research (HDR) students at a regional university in Queensland, Australia. A total of 231 HDR students (female = 137, male = 94) completed the Brunel Mood Scale to assess the constructs of Tension, Depression, Anger, Vigor, Fatigue, and Confusion. A subset of 11 students participated in three focus groups to explore their experiences. Results showed that reported mood among HDR students was generally more negative than population norms, although more positive than moods reported previously during the pandemic. A total of 52 participants (22.5%) reported mood profiles that indicated elevated risk of mental ill-health. Mood profiles varied significantly by gender, age, study mode (full-time/part-time), location (on-campus/online), and citizenship (domestic/international). Quantitative data were supported by focus group findings, which identified mental health and wellbeing as key themes of concern to HDR students. Our findings indicate that support mechanisms to safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of HDR students should be a priority for universities.
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