Unveiling challenges and successes for graduate students in a post-pandemic era

Objective: To explore the challenges experienced by U.S. graduate students in a post-pandemic era. Participants: A total of 437 students participated in the study across seven universities; most were younger than 35 years of age (68%), female (68%), White/European American (78%), and enrolled in a STEM-specific program (60%). Methods: Students voluntarily completed a comprehensive climate survey on demographic, academic, mental health, overall well-being, and financial characteristics. Results: Linear and logistic regression analyses identified several characteristics associated with depression, imposter phenomenon, social isolation, and stress. Perceived financial threat did not appear in multivariable models. However, dose-response relationships were univariately observed across most health measures indicating better responses among those with low financial threat and worse responses among those with high financial threat. Conclusion: To effectively address the numerous, multi-dimensional challenges for graduate students, academic institutions must provide structural support to students’ interconnected, academic, and cultural environments to supplement traditional student services.