Work

Support systems impacting the mental health of diverse women in biomedical science programs: An ecological approach

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Biomedical doctoral trainees experience high rates of mental health distress compared to the general population. Minoritized students are particularly vulnerable to psychological stress during training due to systemic factors including discrimination, bullying, financial constraints, high workloads and constant critical feedback. As such, the mental health of minoritized biomedical trainees is both a social justice and health equity issue. We examined longitudinal narratives of 33 Asian, Black and Latiné women in biomedical doctoral programs to understand how they constructed support systems to manage psychological distress induced by training environments and how institutional agents can effectively support student psychological wellness. By examining the experiences of graduate students over time, we found that students expend time and energy to create support systems using a variety of resources. Using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model, the findings show that constructing support can present challenges, particularly when norms and structures of biomedical training conflict with practices to foster good health. We present three themes: 1) students find authentic, and often similar race/ethnicity, support, with family, friends, and pre-PhD mentors; 2) students seek support from health professionals, though not all services were readily available or perceived as a good fit; 3) fewer than half found that PhD mentors (PIs of their lab) and university resources provided genuine concern for their well-being. • Biomedical training culture can harm the mental health of minoritized women trainees • Support from family and friends with matched identities helps trainees cope • Support from non-PhD mentors with matched salient identities helps trainees cope • Most minoritized women trainees doubt PhD mentors care about their wellbeing • Supporting student mental health requires systems change within training settings

Source: SSM - Mental Health

DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100545

Authors: Ida Salusky, Robin Remich, Lidia Monjaras-Gaytan, Cilka Mayumi Hijara, Richard McGee

Institutions: Northwestern University, Loyola University Chicago

Language: English

Topic: Doctoral Education Challenges and Solutions

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities, Gender equality, Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,540