DEPRESSION AMONG THE RESEARCH SCHOLARS IN HIGHER EDUCATIONINSTITUTIONS – AN EVALUATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Ph.D. and master's students worldwide are grappling with disproportionately high rates of
depression and anxiety, surpassing those found in the general population by a significant margin
(T. M. Evans et al. Nature Biotech. 36, 282–284; 2018). This concerning report, based on data
collected from 2,279 students representing 26 different nations, unveils alarming statistics: over
40% of the respondents exhibited anxiety scores indicative of moderate to severe levels, while
nearly 40% displayed signs of moderate to severe depression. The implications of these high rates
are profound and call for immediate attention. Teresa Evans, a neuroscientist from the University
of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the lead author of the study, emphasizes the
critical need for emotional support systems, opportunities for students to explore their interests,
and the destigmatization of seeking psychological assistance. In recent years, a select group of
scholars has undertaken the task of investigating the prevalence of mental health issues among
Ph.D. students. In line with these efforts, the present descriptive study focuses on elucidating the
extent of depression among research scholars in Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu, India. The study
aims to involve 306 respondents, employing a proportionate random sampling method. The
research adopts standardized assessment tools designed to identify those at high risk for developing
mental health problems within the Ph.D. scholar community. The study's findings reveal that
research scholars tend to fall within a wide spectrum of depression levels, with aspects such as
apathy, sleep disturbances, pessimism, fatigability, irritability, social withdrawal, dejection or
sadness, self-dislike, self-acquisition, self-harm, somatic preoccupation, and indecisiveness all
contributing to varying degrees of depression. This study underscores the urgency of addressing
mental health issues among research scholars and highlights the importance of creating a
supportive and nurturing academic environment to enhance the well-being and productivity of
these students.