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. 2019 Dec;18(4):ar51.
doi: 10.1187/cbe.19-03-0060.

Applying the Stress Process Model to Stress-Burnout and Stress-Depression Relationships in Biomedical Doctoral Students: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

Alexander J Hish  1 , Gabriela A Nagy  1 , Caitlin M Fang  1 , Lisalynn Kelley  1 , Christopher V Nicchitta  2 , Kafui Dzirasa  1   3   4   5 , M Zachary Rosenthal  1   6
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Applying the Stress Process Model to Stress-Burnout and Stress-Depression Relationships in Biomedical Doctoral Students: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

Alexander J Hish et al. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2019 Dec.

Abstract

Although doctoral students in the biomedical sciences have been recognized as a population at particular risk for mental health problems such as burnout and depression, little research has been conducted to identify candidate targets for intervention. To this end, we used the stress process model to evaluate potential mediators of stress-burnout and stress-depression relationships in biomedical doctoral students. A cross-sectional sample (n = 69) completed validated self-report measures of stress; symptoms of burnout and depression; and perceptions of mastery, social support, and advisor support. In linear regression models, we found that academic stressors were most predictive of burnout, whereas family/monetary stressors were most predictive of depression. In mediation models, we found that the relationship between stress and burnout was partially mediated by mastery and advisor support, while the stress-depression relationship was partially mediated by mastery. These findings represent a first step in identifying interventional targets to improve mental health in this at-risk population. Whereas certain stressors are inherent to the doctoral training environment, psychosocial interventions to enhance one's sense of mastery and/or to improve advisor relationships may mitigate the influence of such stressors on burnout and depression.

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Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Multiple mediation model of stress–burnout relationship with total, direct, and indirect effects. All regression coefficients are unstandardized and generated from 10,000 bootstrap resamples. On the arrow directly connecting stress to burnout, the number outside the parentheses indicates the total effect of stress on burnout, while the number inside the parentheses indicates the direct effect of stress on burnout. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
Multiple mediation model of stress–depression relationship with total, direct, and indirect effects. All regression coefficients are unstandardized and generated from 10,000 bootstrap resamples. On the arrow directly connecting stress to depression, the number outside the parentheses indicates the total effect of stress on depression, while the number inside the parentheses indicates the direct effect of stress on depression. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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