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.” |