“So, we started to say hi to each other on campus.” a qualitative study about well-being among PhD candidates in Norway
Background and Purpose Loneliness, social isolation, and lack of social belonging are factors that may negatively impact the mental health and well-being of PhD candidates. This study aims to advance understanding of the function of social activities in their role as interventions that foster social...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2474355 |
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| author | Erica Marie Kunz-Skrede Marianne Molin Miroslava Tokovska |
| author_facet | Erica Marie Kunz-Skrede Marianne Molin Miroslava Tokovska |
| author_sort | Erica Marie Kunz-Skrede |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and Purpose Loneliness, social isolation, and lack of social belonging are factors that may negatively impact the mental health and well-being of PhD candidates. This study aims to advance understanding of the function of social activities in their role as interventions that foster social belonging and well-being among PhD candidates. Methods After collecting observational data from the well-being interventions, 10 PhD candidates were interviewed to explore how they perceived their participation in social activities on campus and how it affected their sense of social belonging. Results Our results show that participating in social activities was beneficial for PhD candidates on both a personal and professional level, potentially leading to an increased sense of community and well-being, along with increased social interaction, networking, and collaboration. PhD candidates’ well-being was found to be linked to social capital in the forms of social belonging and social support. Conclusion Organizing social activities tailored to PhD candidates’ needs may help increase their sense of well-being by generating social capital, which could benefit PhD candida nationally and worldwide. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-88ec2d20eae64b1ebdde1e1fb4e64f91 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1748-2623 1748-2631 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj-art-88ec2d20eae64b1ebdde1e1fb4e64f912025-08-20T03:44:28ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312025-12-0120110.1080/17482631.2025.24743552474355“So, we started to say hi to each other on campus.” a qualitative study about well-being among PhD candidates in NorwayErica Marie Kunz-Skrede0Marianne Molin1Miroslava Tokovska2Kristiania University of Applied SciencesKristiania University of Applied SciencesKristiania University of Applied SciencesBackground and Purpose Loneliness, social isolation, and lack of social belonging are factors that may negatively impact the mental health and well-being of PhD candidates. This study aims to advance understanding of the function of social activities in their role as interventions that foster social belonging and well-being among PhD candidates. Methods After collecting observational data from the well-being interventions, 10 PhD candidates were interviewed to explore how they perceived their participation in social activities on campus and how it affected their sense of social belonging. Results Our results show that participating in social activities was beneficial for PhD candidates on both a personal and professional level, potentially leading to an increased sense of community and well-being, along with increased social interaction, networking, and collaboration. PhD candidates’ well-being was found to be linked to social capital in the forms of social belonging and social support. Conclusion Organizing social activities tailored to PhD candidates’ needs may help increase their sense of well-being by generating social capital, which could benefit PhD candida nationally and worldwide.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2474355phd candidateswell-beingsocial capitalsocial belongingsocial support |
| spellingShingle | Erica Marie Kunz-Skrede Marianne Molin Miroslava Tokovska “So, we started to say hi to each other on campus.” a qualitative study about well-being among PhD candidates in Norway International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being phd candidates well-being social capital social belonging social support |
| title | “So, we started to say hi to each other on campus.” a qualitative study about well-being among PhD candidates in Norway |
| title_full | “So, we started to say hi to each other on campus.” a qualitative study about well-being among PhD candidates in Norway |
| title_fullStr | “So, we started to say hi to each other on campus.” a qualitative study about well-being among PhD candidates in Norway |
| title_full_unstemmed | “So, we started to say hi to each other on campus.” a qualitative study about well-being among PhD candidates in Norway |
| title_short | “So, we started to say hi to each other on campus.” a qualitative study about well-being among PhD candidates in Norway |
| title_sort | so we started to say hi to each other on campus a qualitative study about well being among phd candidates in norway |
| topic | phd candidates well-being social capital social belonging social support |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2474355 |
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