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Table 7 Reasons why Ph.D. students concealed their depression from undergraduate researchers

From: Face negotiation in graduate school: the decision to conceal or reveal depression among life sciences Ph.D. students in the United States

Theme

Description

Percent (N = 24)a

Example student quote 1

Example student quote 2

Would break professional barrier

Graduate student describes that they want to maintain their status as a professional, credible, or good advisor, or want to seem more like an authority figure. If they reveal, it could compromise the integrity of their status as an advisor.

54%

Student 48: “I feel an expectation to be in a position of greater wisdom as a superior to [the undergraduates]. So, I think it reflects poorly on my leadership ability to advise them, not in any tangible way, but I think there's an expectation that leaders aren't necessarily supposed to disclose [their depression].”

Student 50: “There is more of a professional barrier between [the undergraduates] than there is between me and other lab mates, so it feels like your boss telling you all this personal information about themselves which might be seen as weird.”

Lack of personal relationship

Graduate student describes that they reveal their depression because they have not established a close enough relationship with the undergraduate.

38%

Student 22 “I have a good relationship with [the undergraduates] and talk to them, but not [a personal] one where I would think about discussing my mental health issues with them.”

Student 24: “Well, [the undergrads and I] are not acquainted as much. I see them sometimes and I train them. So, they're very superficial conversations or conversations about the research and never really about [my depression].”

Perceives cultural/maturity/age difference

Graduate student perceives there is too much of a difference between them and the undergraduate regarding their cultures, ages, or maturity levels to share their depression.

21%

Student 33: “I also am wary of the maturity level where I feel kind of less comfortable talking to [an undergraduate] who might not have the same life experiences as me and might see [my depression] in a different light.”

Student 22: “Well, there is a bit of an age gap between me and most of the undergrads. So, yeah, I don't know if I feel totally comfortable talking to somebody who is 10 years my junior about [my depression].”

Avoid burdening the undergraduate researcher

Graduate student perceives that sharing depression may burden the undergraduate researcher.

13%

Student 46: “I'm pretty sure that [undergraduate researchers] have problems of their own, so they don't need to know and deal with my problems.”

Student 2: “It's always somewhat emotionally taxing to know that somebody is struggling. I would say that pretty much anybody with a standard amount of empathy would feel at least some emotional burden from finding out that somebody that they associate with in some way is dealing with something like depression.”

  1. aPercentages add to more than 100 because students often described more than one reason for concealing their depression to undergraduate researchers