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24th February 2026, Pages 61-79  The Author(s) 2026  \n[http://dx.doi.org/10.17583/ijep.18151](http://dx.doi.org/10.17583/ijep.18151)  \nPhD Students’ Mental Health and Well-Being: a Qualitative Study from Doctorates’ Perspective from Five Spanish Universities  \nAmaya Ayala-Garcia 1, Marta Donat2,3, Ariadna Cerdán-Torregrosa4, Jose María Ramada2,5,6, Guillermo García-González7, Eva González-Menéndez8& Elena Ronda-Pérez2,4  \n1) Research Group in Social Determinants of Health and Demographic Change-OPIK, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain.  \n2) Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP) , Spain.  \n3) National School of Health, Institute of Health Carlos III, Spain.  \n4) Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, University of Alicante, Spain.  \n5) Centre for Research in Occupational Health (CiSAL), Pompeu Fabra University, Spain.  \n6) Hospital delMar Medical Research Institute (IMIM)–Parc Salut Mar, Spain.  \n7) Department of Public Law, International University of La Rioja, Spain.  \n8) Higher School of Engineering and Technology, International University of La Rioja, Spain.  \nAbstract  \nThe aim of this study was to explore doctoral students’ perceptions of how completing a doctoral thesis impacts their mental health and well-being, and the associated influencing factors. We conducted nine semi-structured interviews with PhD students from five Spanish universities in 2022 and analyzed them using qualitative content analysis. Participants reported experiencing mental health problems, which in some cases were perceived to lead to physical health problems. These problems were more frequent among PhD students without a predoctoral contract (i.e., without a funded research position) . Support from supervisors and the research group, availability of free time and leisure time, future employment prospects, employment and working conditions and workload were factors that interviewees perceived as having an impact on mental health and well-being throughout the process of completing a PhD. Results highlight the need for institutional interventions to improve employment and working conditions for PhD students.  \nKeywords  \nPhD, qualitative study, mental health, well-being, university  To cite this article: Ayala-Garcia, A., Donat, M., Cerdán-Torregrosa, A., Ramada, J.M., GarcíaGonzález, G., González-Menéndez, E., & Ronda-Pérez, E. (2026) . PhD Students’ Mental Health and Well-Being: a Qualitative Study from Doctorates’ Perspective from Five Spanish Universities. International Journal Educational Psychology, 15(1), pp. 61-79. [http://dx.doi.org/10.17583/ijep.18151](http://dx.doi.org/10.17583/ijep.18151)  \n[Corresponding author:](Corresponding author: Ariadna Cerd)[ Ariadna Cerd](Corresponding author: Ariadna Cerd)á[n](n)-Torregrosa  \nContact address: [ariadna.cerdan@ua.es](ariadna.cerdan@ua.es)  \nInternational Journal Educational Psychology  \nVolumen 15, Número 1, 24 de febrero de 2026, Páginas 61-79  Autor(es) 2026  \n[http://dx.doi.org/10.17583/ijep.18151](http://dx.doi.org/10.17583/ijep.18151)  \nSalud Mental y Bienestar de los Doctorandos: Estudio Cualitativo desde su Perspectiva en Cinco Universidades Españolas  \nAmaya Ayala-Garcia 1, Marta Donat2,3, Ariadna Cerdán-Torregrosa4, Jose María Ramada2,5,6, Guillermo García-González7, Eva González-Menéndez8& Elena Ronda-Pérez2,4  \n1) Grupo de Investigación en Determinantes Sociales de la Salud y Cambio Geográfico-OPIK, Universidad del País Vasco (UOV/EHU) , España.  \n2) CIBER de Epidemiologíay SaludPública (CIBERESP), España.  \n3) Escuela Nacional de Sanidad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, España.  \n4) Departamento de Enfermería Comunitaria, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública e Historia de la Ciencia, Universidad de Alicante, España.  \n5) Centro de Investigación en Salud Laboral (CiSAL), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, España.  \n6) Ins","cbCairjCHVVWCxcb","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCairjCHVVWCxcb","pdf",477355,21,"English","# Abstract\n# Keywords\n# Article Citation","[{\"question\":\"What was the aim of the study?\",\"answer\":\"To explore doctoral students’ perceptions of how completing a doctoral thesis impacts their mental health and well-being, and to identify associated influencing factors.\"},{\"question\":\"How was the data collected and analyzed?\",\"answer\":\"The researchers conducted nine semi-structured interviews with PhD students from five Spanish universities in 2022 and used qualitative content analysis.\"},{\"question\":\"Which factors did participants perceive as affecting mental health and well-being during the PhD process?\",\"answer\":\"Support from supervisors and the research group, availability of free and leisure time, future employment prospects, employment and working conditions, and workload were perceived as influential factors.\"}]","PhD Students’ Mental Health and Well-Being: a Qualitative Study from Doctorates’ Perspective from Five Spanish Universities | PDF",1792034860,53]