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Is It Any Better? Graduate Students' Experiences and Mental Health Between Summer 2020 and 2021

Sat, April 23, 8:00 to 9:30am PDT (8:00 to 9:30am PDT), Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, Floor: South Building, Level 3, Palomar

Abstract

Pandemic-related postsecondary student research has focused primarily on undergraduates, although early studies including graduate students have found negative effects on mental health and exacerbated social and financial inequality. We explore the longitudinal pandemic-related experiences of approximately 800 graduate students at twelve U.S. institutions, comparing their reports of mental health status, educational plans, and experiences of support or marginalization from summer 2020 with follow-up reports on the past academic year gathered during summer 2021. Initial findings show lower but concerning levels of anxiety and major depression compared to a year ago, and experiences of educational, career, emotional, and financial stressors. Understanding more about graduate students’ experiences during the past year is vital to support graduate student wellbeing and career trajectories.

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