Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics
Working Paper Series,
Research Institute of Industrial Economics
No 1435: PhD Studies Hurt Mental Health, But Less than Previously Feared
Matti Keloharju, Samuli Knüpfer, Dagmar Müller and Joacim Tåg ()
Additional contact information
Matti Keloharju: Aalto University, Postal: and Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Box 55665, SE-102 15 Stockholm, Sweden
Samuli Knüpfer: Aalto U(niversity School of Business, Postal: and Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Box 55665, SE-102 15 Stockholm, Sweden
Dagmar Müller: Swedish Public Employment Service
Joacim Tåg: Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN), Postal: Research Institute of Industrial Economics, Box 55665, SE-102 15 Stockholm, Sweden
Abstract: We study the mental health of PhD students in Sweden using comprehensive administrative data on prescriptions, specialist care visits, hospitalizations, and causes of death. We find about 7% (5%) of PhD students receive medication or diagnosis for depression (anxiety) in a given year. These prevalence rates are less than one-third of the earlier reported survey-based estimates, and even after adjusting for difference in methodology, 43% (72%) of the rates in the literature. Nevertheless, PhD students still fare worse than their peers not pursuing graduate studies. Our difference-in-differences research design can attribute at least 80% of this health disadvantage to the time in the PhD program. This deterioration suggests doctoral studies causally affect mental health.
Keywords: PhD Studies; Mental Health; Depression; Anxiety; Suicide
JEL-codes: A23; I10; I23; I29; I31
Language: English
27 pages, First version: August 12, 2022. Revised: December 6, 2023.
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