Abstract
Purpose: Understanding ways to foster wellbeing in postgraduate-research students (PGRs) requires focus especially with respect to positive relationship formation with supervisory teams. Hence, the aim of the current study was to explore six different ways of nurturing wellbeing; perceptions of positive relationships with supervisory teams; and interactions between these factors.
Design/methodology: 155 PGRs completed questionnaires at baseline and 6-months. The predictor variables were six ways of nurturing wellbeing; the outcome variable was psychological wellbeing appraisals overall; and the moderator variables were positive perceptions of relationships with key staff.
Findings: The most effective ways of nurturing wellbeing were i. Noticing and Being Aware, ii. Discovering and Learning, iii. Connecting with Others, and iv. Being Healthy and Safe. Over time, Noticing and Being Aware predicted psychological wellbeing appraisals overall. Positive relationships with supervisors, co-supervisors and work peers were associated with wellbeing appraisals. Furthermore, positive relationships with co-supervisors most convincingly strengthened the relationships between wellbeing appraisals and Noticing and Being Healthy cross-sectionally, and Giving longitudinally.
Originality: Examining the interactions between nurturing positive wellbeing in PGRs and positive relationships with supervisory team members is under-researched.
Implications: It is concerning that PGRs are often overlooked when developing policies and strategies to combat mental health problems. Rather than simply focusing on diminishing mental health problems, the current work evidences ways of optimizing positive aspects of PGR experiences by actively nurturing wellbeing in tandem with enhancing relationships with supervisory team members. However, such initiatives have to be an investment at institutional, as well as, individual levels.
Design/methodology: 155 PGRs completed questionnaires at baseline and 6-months. The predictor variables were six ways of nurturing wellbeing; the outcome variable was psychological wellbeing appraisals overall; and the moderator variables were positive perceptions of relationships with key staff.
Findings: The most effective ways of nurturing wellbeing were i. Noticing and Being Aware, ii. Discovering and Learning, iii. Connecting with Others, and iv. Being Healthy and Safe. Over time, Noticing and Being Aware predicted psychological wellbeing appraisals overall. Positive relationships with supervisors, co-supervisors and work peers were associated with wellbeing appraisals. Furthermore, positive relationships with co-supervisors most convincingly strengthened the relationships between wellbeing appraisals and Noticing and Being Healthy cross-sectionally, and Giving longitudinally.
Originality: Examining the interactions between nurturing positive wellbeing in PGRs and positive relationships with supervisory team members is under-researched.
Implications: It is concerning that PGRs are often overlooked when developing policies and strategies to combat mental health problems. Rather than simply focusing on diminishing mental health problems, the current work evidences ways of optimizing positive aspects of PGR experiences by actively nurturing wellbeing in tandem with enhancing relationships with supervisory team members. However, such initiatives have to be an investment at institutional, as well as, individual levels.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 19 Aug 2024 |