Understanding Overcommitment and Wellbeing in Doctoral Programs

Analytical Approach

A survey-based analysis was conducted and visualized to examine:

• The top reported concerns among doctoral students

• Weekly hours spent on PhD-related work, segmented by workload bands

The results were presented using comparative bar charts to clearly communicate prevalence and risk factors.

Key Insights

• Work–life balance and mental health emerged as the most common concerns, each reported by 25% of doctoral students.

• Impostor syndrome (18%) and conflict with supervisors (17%) highlighted significant psychological and relational pressures.

• 49% of doctoral students reported working more than 50 hours per week, with an additional 5% exceeding 80 hours, indicating widespread overcommitment.

• Only 8% of students reported working fewer than 30 hours per week.

Impact

• Provided empirical evidence linking excessive workload with wellbeing challenges.

• Supported the case for institutional policies around workload boundaries and expectation management.

• Informed the design of mental health support programs and supervisor training initiatives.

Outcome

The analysis equipped academic leaders and policymakers with actionable insight to address overcommitment, improve doctoral wellbeing, and reduce burnout and attrition risk in research programs.