Factors associated with the mental health of early‐career dementia researchers: An international cross‐sectional survey - PMC Skip to main content An official website of the United States government Here's how you know Here's how you know Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Search Log in Dashboard Publications Account settings Log out Search… Search NCBI Primary site navigation Search Logged in as: Dashboard Publications Account settings Log in Search PMC Full-Text Archive Search in PMC Journal List User Guide PERMALINK Copy As a library, NLM provides access to scientific literature. Inclusion in an NLM database does not imply endorsement of, or agreement with, the contents by NLM or the National Institutes of Health. Learn more: PMC Disclaimer | PMC Copyright Notice Alzheimers Dement . 2026 Apr 16;22(4):e71364. doi: 10.1002/alz.71364 Search in PMC Search in PubMed View in NLM Catalog Add to search Factors associated with the mental health of early‐career dementia researchers: An international cross‐sectional survey Bryony Waters‐Harvey Bryony Waters‐Harvey 1 National Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK 13 Present address: Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Populational Health University of Sheffield Sheffield UK Find articles by Bryony Waters‐Harvey 1, 13, ✉ , Pascale Heins Pascale Heins 2 Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology and Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands Find articles by Pascale Heins 2 , Eithne Heffernan Eithne Heffernan 3 National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK 4 Hearing Sciences, Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK 14 Present address: School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences Loughborough University Loughborough UK Find articles by Eithne Heffernan 3, 4, 14 , Anika Wuestefeld Anika Wuestefeld 5 Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden 6 Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden Find articles by Anika Wuestefeld 5, 6 , C Elizabeth Shaaban C Elizabeth Shaaban 7 Department of Health Promotion and Development, School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 8 Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 9 Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Find articles by C Elizabeth Shaaban 7, 8, 9 , Adam Smith Adam Smith 10 Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK Find articles by Adam Smith 10 , Royhaan Folarin Royhaan Folarin 11 Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), Butaro, Rwanda Find articles by Royhaan Folarin 11 , Sara Laureen Bartels Sara Laureen Bartels 2 Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology and Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands 12 Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Find articles by Sara Laureen Bartels 2, 12, ✉ Author information Article notes Copyright and License information 1 National Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK 2 Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology and Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands 3 National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK 4 Hearing Sciences, Mental Health and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK 5 Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden 6 Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden 7 Department of Health Promotion and Development, School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 8 Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 9 Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 10 Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK 11 Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), Butaro, Rwanda 12 Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden 13 Present address: Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Populational Health University of Sheffield Sheffield UK 14 Present address: School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences Loughborough University Loughborough UK * Correspondence , Bryony Waters‐Harvey, Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), The University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Rd, Broomhall, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK. Email: [email protected] , Sara Laureen Bartels, Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Dr. Tanslaan 12, Maastricht, 6229 ET, the Netherlands. Email: [email protected] ✉ Corresponding author. Revised 2026 Mar 10; Received 2026 Jan 15; Accepted 2026 Mar 11; Collection date 2026 Apr. © 2026 The Author(s). Alzheimer's & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association. This is an open access article under the terms of the http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. PMC Copyright notice PMCID: PMC13084526 PMID: 41988878 This article has been corrected. See Alzheimers Dement. 2026 May 11;22(5):e71466 . Abstract BACKGROUND Early‐career researchers (ECRs) play a vital role in scientific progress; however, academic environments and personal characteristics may influence their mental health and capacity to work. This study explored factors associated with mental health among ECRs in dementia research (ECDRs). METHODS We analyzed data from an international cross‐sectional survey of 283 ECDRs using a logistic regression to examine associations between demographic, work‐related, and psychosocial factors and self‐reported mental health conditions. Gender interactions were tested, and significant variables were included in a multivariable model. RESULTS In this sample, imposter syndrome (odds ratio [OR] = 13.04), financial problems (OR = 3.08), being aged 25 to 34 years (OR = 3.69), and identifying as non‐heterosexual (OR = 4.10) were significantly associated with higher odds of reporting a mental health condition. No significant gender interactions were identified. DISCUSSION Mental health among ECDRs appears particularly affected by imposter syndrome, financial strain, age, and sexual orientation. Targeted support addressing these factors may help sustain the dementia research workforce. Keywords: academic researchers, cross‐sectional survey, dementia, early career researcher, mental health, psychosocial factors, well‐being Highlights This is the first study of mental health factors in early‐career dementia researchers. Imposter syndrome and financial strain strongly predict mental health difficulties. LGBTQAI+ researchers report greater vulnerability to mental health problems. Being aged 25 to 34 is linked to higher mental health risk. Results highlight the need for structural and targeted support strategies. 1. BACKGROUND Early‐career researchers (ECRs) constitute a substantial proportion of the global academic workforce and play a critical role in advancing science. 1 Given their central role in research, it is concerning that many ECRs experience mental health challenges. Research highlights that graduate students report higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress than the general population. 2 , 3 , 4 Moreover, ECRs are often reluctant to seek support due to concerns that disclosure could negatively affect their academic standing if they appear unable to manage academic and social pressures. 5 , 6 High levels of mental health challenges persist among individuals who remain in academia after completing their PhD, although prevalence is difficult to quantify due to limited research focused specifically on postdoctoral researchers. One study found that 70% of researchers and students reported stress, 34% had sought professional help for depression and anxiety, and a further 19% wished to seek help. 7 A systematic review reported that 27% of academic staff regularly experienced burnout, with 32% to 42% of staff experiencing mental health conditions higher than in other working populations. 8 Multiple factors influence ECR mental health, including personal characteristics, external factors such as work conditions and academic culture, and elements that span these categories (Figure 1 ). FIGURE 1. Open in a new tab A model developed by the authors, based on the published literature, outlines personal characteristics and external factors that influence mental health in early‐career researchers (ECRs). 1.1. External factors The nature of academia, particularly ECR roles, contributes to mental health challenges through several interconnected reasons. As universities increasingly adopt a business‐oriented model, academic success is closely tied to research output and reputation, measured by league tables (e.g., QS World University Rankings), high‐impact publications, and grant acquisition, 9 fostering a publish‐or‐perish culture where continuous publication is essential for career advancement. 10 In recent years, the number of PhD graduates has doubled, without a corresponding increase in academic positions, 11 , 12 intensifying competition for jobs, funding, resources, and mentorship. 5 This culture, characterized by job insecurity and short‐term contracts, exacerbates stress and anxiety among ECRs. 13 , 14 , 15 Financial security further compounds these pressures, as many PhD stipends, if available, fall below a living wage despite long working hours, often exceeding the standard 37‐ to 40‐h full‐time week. 16 , 17 Although securing research funding is central to ECRs' roles, funding opportunities are limited and often favor senior researchers, reinforcing existing hierarchies. 3 , 4 Grants are usually awarded based on a researcher's experience and achievements, as well as the research idea, thereby reinforcing the publish‐or‐perish culture. While ECRs frequently conduct much of the research, their contributions may be underrecognized, with credit accruing primarily to senior academics, enabling further grant success. 10 Additionally, eligibility requirements, such as the need for long‐term contracts and the exclusion of salaries from many grants, restrict the funding available to ECRs, contributing to prolonged stress and uncertainty, as it can take many years for ECRs to gain a permanent position with regular grant acceptance. ECRs also report difficulties maintaining work–life balance with an overwork culture, with working weeks of 60 to 80 h commonly reported, double the standard full‐time hours. 15 , 18 Such workloads are associated with stress, burnout, and impaired performance, creating a self‐reinforcing cycle of declining mental health. 19 , 20 These challenges were further exacerbated during the COVID‐19 pandemic through lab closures, contract instability, and hiring and salary freezes, which disrupted career progression and negatively affected ECRs’ mental health. 21 , 22 , 23 1.2. Personal characteristics While academic culture can negatively affect the mental health of all ECRs, some groups face additional challenges related to personal characteristics. Women are at higher risk of major depression, anxiety, and self‐harm, irrespective of career stage and role. 24 Similarly, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual/aromantic/ally individuals (LGBTQAI+) individuals experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, suicidality, distress, and substance use than heterosexual and cisgender people. 25 Although universities have made progress toward inclusivity, academic structures often fail to support diverse populations adequately. Women reported greater barriers in academia, including pressure to outperform male colleagues to secure or progress in their role and produce higher‐quality work, negatively affecting mental health. 26 Career interruption due to caregiving responsibilities, including childbirth, childcare, and caring for ill relatives, further compounds these challenges. 27 Inadequate institutional policies, including limited maternity leave, the absence of private lactation rooms, and inflexible hours, make balancing parenthood and academic responsibilities challenging, particularly when these responsibilities often coincide with critical career transitions. 28 Navigating these constant challenges increases stress, anxiety, and burnout and may lead to women neglecting their own health to manage both demands. 29 , 30 Underrepresented groups, across ethnicity, disability, gender, or sexual orientation, may also face discrimination, bias, and harassment, leading to unequal access to resources, support, and opportunities and negatively affecting mental health and career progression. 27 Despite a diverse ECR population, perceived inequality at senior levels can foster feelings of being “othered” and beliefs that senior positions are unattainable. 31 Once again, the COVID‐19 pandemic exacerbated challenges for underrepresented groups, further worsening their mental health. 21 For example, school and nursery closures forced families, predominantly mothers, to coordinate their research and childcare responsibilities at home, resulting in increased pressure and stress. 22 1.3. ECRs in the field of dementia research and study aim Dementia is a global health crisis, with diagnoses rapidly increasing. 32 Advances in prevention and treatment depend on a productive academic workforce, predominantly comprising early‐career dementia researchers (ECDRs). Although the mental health of researchers has been examined in the literature, no studies – to our knowledge – have explicitly focused on ECDRs. While mental health challenges are a recognized systemic issue across the global academic workforce, researchers in medicine and health‐related disciplines, such as dementia research, often experience a higher prevalence of these conditions compared to those in other scientific field. 33 Given the evidence that researchers in medicine and health‐related fields often experience a higher prevalence of mental health conditions than those in other disciplines, 33 it is important to examine the factors influencing mental health in dementia research. Accordingly, this study explores personal and external factors associated with ECRD's mental health, providing a foundation for future causal association research and intervention development to support well‐being and productivity in this group. 2. METHODS 2.1. ECR definition Despite ECRs' significant contribution to the academic workforce, there is no universally agreed‐upon definition. ECRs have been defined through self‐identification, 34 specific roles such as postgraduate students or postdoctoral researchers, 35 or time since PhD completion, though proposed cut‐off points vary widely. 36 , 37 Further disagreement exists regarding whether ECR status includes subtenure and early faculty positions, such as assistant professor and lecturer. 38 RESEARCH IN CONTEXT Systematic review : We reviewed the literature on ECRs’ mental health using established databases (e.g., PubMed). Prior work documents high levels of anxiety, depression, burnout, and financial strain among ECRs, but evidence specific to dementia researchers is scarce. Existing studies largely focus on doctoral students or academic staff broadly, with limited attention to psychosocial factors such as imposter syndrome, sexual orientation, and perceived marginalization within dementia research contexts. Interpretation : This study extends current knowledge by presenting findings on the associations between demographic, work‐related, and psychosocial factors and mental health among ECDRs. Impostor syndrome, financial strain, being aged 25 to 34, and identifying as non‐heterosexual were strongly associated with mental health conditions, highlighting both structural and identity‐related vulnerabilities. Future directions : Future research should use longitudinal and mixed‐methods designs with larger, more diverse samples, particularly LGBTQAI+ researchers, to clarify causal pathways and evaluate interventions addressing imposter syndrome and financial and employment security to support well‐being and workforce sustainability. In this study, ECRs were defined as self‐identified individuals, including students, research assistants, postdoctoral fellows, and early/pre‐tenure faculty (assistant professors). Senior roles (e.g., professors) and non‐research positions were excluded. 2.2. Study design The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) Professional Interest Area (PIA) to Elevate Early Career Researchers (PEERs), in collaboration with University College London, conducted a cross‐sectional international online survey between September and October 2021 (during the later stages of the third COVID‐19 wave, according to the World Health Organization). The survey, delivered in English via SurveyMonkey ( www.surveymonkey.com ), covered several topics, including experiences, job and workplace, conference attendance, publishing, relocation, leaving academia, and the impact of COVID‐19. Ethical approval was obtained from the University College London Research Ethics Committee (21275/001). A non‐peer‐reviewed report presenting descriptive findings has been published, 39 and subsequent peer‐reviewed papers have examined specific aspects of ECR experience using the same dataset and described the methods in greater detail. 22 , 40 The present study contributes new secondary analyses focusing specifically on factors associated with ECRs' mental health. 2.3. Participants and procedure Individuals were eligible if they self‐identified as ECRs, currently working in any multidisciplinary field of dementia research, or had left the field within the previous 2 years. The survey could be paused and resumed later using the same web browser, and no compensation was offered. It was distributed globally via departments, institutions, networks, and charities via social media, newsletters, podcasts, blogs, and emails targeting ECDRs. At the beginning of the survey, participants reviewed the study information and data‐use statement, confirmed eligibility, and provided informed consent. Participation was voluntary and anonymous; no personal identifiers, including names and contact details, were collected. Questions were non‐mandatory, and survey branching meant that participants did not necessarily answer every item. 2.4. Survey data For the present analyses, we used data from the original survey reported by Smith, 41 including age, gender, perceived underrepresentation, ethnic minority status, job title, sexual orientation, relocation to a new country, financial problems, imposter syndrome, discrimination, and mental health. These variables were selected based on the existing literature and the researchers' conceptual model outlining personal and external factors affecting ECRs' mental health. 2.5. Statistical analysis 2.5.1. Data preparation Although participants were asked to confirm that they met the eligibility criteria before starting the survey, a small number were excluded from the analysis because their responses indicated ineligibility (Figure 2 ). For example, some did not hold research roles (e.g., health professionals) or held senior roles (e.g., professors), some had not worked in dementia research, and others did not provide data for the included variables. FIGURE 2. Open in a new tab Flow diagram of excluded participants. Seven participants identified as a gender other than man or woman, of which four had missing data on key variables. Given the small sample size and our analytical plan to examine gender interactions, it was not possible to include these participants in the regression analysis. The survey asked about experiences of specific types of discrimination (e.g., ableism, ageism, racism, homophobia, sexism, and religious discrimination). Because the dataset within each category was small, these items were collapsed into a single discrimination variable. Similarly, the three questions asking whether participants considered themselves underrepresented where they live, at their institution, and among peers were combined into a single underrepresentation variable. Sexual orientation was collapsed from heterosexual, gay or lesbian, bisexual, questioning, and self‐described sexual orientation into two categories – heterosexual and LGBQA+ – to ensure sufficient numbers within categories for statistical analysis. 2.5.2. Analyses Descriptive statistics are presented as numbers and percentages. We examined associations between personal characteristics and work conditions and self‐reported mental health condition (yes/no) using logistic regression models. First, individual logistic regression models were run for each independent variable (age, gender, discrimination, relocation, contract length, time left of contract, imposter syndrome, financial problems, perceived underrepresentation, ethnicity, and sexual orientation). Second, for each independent variable, we ran logistic regression models that included the variable, gender, and their interaction term. Variables that were significantly associated with having a mental health condition in the individual (univariable) models were then entered into a multivariable logistic regression model. Any significant gender interactions identified in the individual models were also included in the final multivariable model to create an overall model. Analyses were conducted using SPSS version 28. All tests of significance were two‐tailed, with alpha set at 0.05. 3. RESULTS 3.1. Sample characteristics This study included 283 participants. Of this sample, the majority were PhD students/graduate students (38.9%) or working as postdoctoral researchers (35%), aged between 25 and 34 (54.1%), women (69.6%), and heterosexual (81.6%). Further details on the sample characteristics are presented in Table 1 . Participants came from 31 different countries, representing 43 nationalities. See Supplement 1 for the numbers of each nationality and country. TABLE 1. Sample characteristics ( n = 283). Variable Total N (%) Women N (%) Men N (%) Other gender N (%) N 283 197 (69.6) 83 (29.3) 3 (1.1) Position Undergraduate 14 (4.9) 7 (3.7) 7 (8.4) 0 PhD/graduate student 110 (38.9) 84 (42.6) 26 (31.3) 0 Postdoc researcher 99 (35) 70 (35.5) 27(32.3) 2 (66.7) Associate professor 39 (13.8) 21(10.7) 17 (20.5) 1 (33.3) Other 21(7.4) 15 (7.6) 6 (7.2) 0 Age (years) <25 27 (9.5) 17 (8.6) 10 (12.0) 0 25 to 34 153 (54.1) 114 (57.9) 37 (44.6) 2 (66.7) 35 to 44 80 (28.3) 53 (26.9) 26 (31.3) 1(33.3) >45 23 (8.1) 13 (6.6) 10 (12.0) 0 Sexual orientation Heterosexual 231 (81.6) 166 (84.3) 65 (78.3) 0 LGBTQAI+ 52 (18.4) 31 (15.7) 18 (21.7) 3 (100) Racial minority Yes 53 (18.7) 34 (17.3) 19 (22.9) 0 No 230 (81.3) 163 (82.7) 64 (77.1) 3 (100) Underrepresented Group 133 (47.0) 104 (52.8) 27 (32.5) 2 (66.7) Yes 135 (47.7) 86 (43.7) 48 (65.8) 1 (33.3) No 15 (5.3) 7 (3.6) 8 (9.6) Missing Relocation Yes 142 (50.2) 102 (52.3) 38 (45.8) 2 (66.7) No 141 (49.8) 95 (48.2) 45 (54.2) 1 (33.3) Dependents under 18 Yes 58 (20.5) 35 (17.8) 23 (27.7) 0 No 222 (78.4) 161 (81.7) 58 (69.9) 3 (100) Missing 3 (1.1) 1 (0.5) 2 (2.4) 0 Length of contract Up to 1 year 65 (23.0) 48 (24.4) 17 (20.5) 0 2 to 3 years 112 (39.8) 82 (41.6) 29 (34.9) 1 (33.3) 4 to 5 years 64 (22.6) 44 (22.3) 20 (24.1) 0 Permanent 28 (9.9) 13 (6.6) 13 (15.7) 2 (66.7) Student/unemployed 4 (1.4) 3 (1.5) 1 (1.2) 0 Missing 10 (3.5) 7 (3.6) 3 (3.6) 0 Time left on contract <1 year 112 (39.6) 85 (43.1) 27 (32.5) 0 1 to 3 years 107 (37.8) 78 (39.6) 28 (33.7) 1 (33.3) 3+ 20 (7.1) 9 (4.6) 9 (10.8) 0 Permanent 28 (9.9) 12 (6.1) 12 (14.5) 1 (33.3) Missing 16 (5.7) 13 (6.6) 2 (2.4) 1 (33.3) Happy in role Happy, slightly happy 214 (75.6) 151 (76.6) 61 (73.5) 2 (66.7) Neither happy nor sad 30 (10.6) 14 (7.1) 16 (19.3) 0 Slightly sad, sad 30 (10.6) 25 (12.7) 4 (4.8) 1 (33.3) Missing 9 (3.2) 7 (3.6) 2 (2.4) 0 Imposter syndrome Yes 219 (77.4) 161 (81.7) 55 (66.3) 3 (100) No 64 (22.6) 36 (18.3) 28 (33.7) 0 Managing imposter syndrome Very well, well 126 (44.5) 88 (44.7) 36 (43.4) 2 (66.7) Neither well nor poorly 59 (20.8) 50 (25.4) 8 (9.6) 1 (33.3) Poorly, very poorly 38 (13.4) 28 (14.2) 10 (12.0) 0 Missing 60 (21.2) 31 (15.7) 29 (34.9) 0 Mental health Yes 169 (59.7) 125 (63.5) 41 (49.4) 3 (100) No 114 (40.3) 72 (36.5) 42 (50.6) 0 Managing mental health Very well, well 96 (33.9) 71 (36.0) 23 (27.7) 2 (66.7) Neither well nor poorly 35 (12.4) 28 (14.2) 7 (8.4) 0 Poorly, very poorly 25 (8.8) 17 (8) 7 (8.4) 1 (33.3) Missing 127 (44.9) 81 (41.1) 50 (60.2) 0 Financial problems Yes 104 (36.7) 62 (31.5) 41 (49.4) 2 (66.7) No 179 (63.3) 135 (68.5) 42 (50.6) 1 (33.3) Experienced any form of discrimination Yes 153 (54.1) 119 (60.4) 31 (37.3) 3 (100) No 130 (45.9) 78 (39.6) 52 (62.7) 0 Sexism Yes 105 (37.1) 99 (50.3) 4 (4.8) 2 (66.7) No 178 (62.9) 98 (49.7) 79 (95.2) 1 (33.3) Religious discrimination Yes 14 (4.9) 6 (3.0) 7 (8.4) 1 (33.3) No 268 (95.3) 190 (96.4) 76 (91.6) 2 (66.7) Missing 1 (0.4) 1 (0.5) 0 0 Racism Yes 31 (11.0) 17 (8.6) 14 (16.9) 0 No 250 (88.3) 179 (90.9) 68 (81.9) 3 (100) Missing 2 (0.7) 1 (0.5) 1 (1.2) 0 Homophobia Yes 15 (5.3) 5 (2.5) 7 (8.4) 3 (100) No 267 (99.6) 191 (97.0) 76 (91.6) 0 Missing 1 (.4) 1 (0.5) 0 0 Ageism Yes 66 (23.3) 48 (24.4) 17 (8.6) 1 (33.3) No 216 (76.3) 148 (75.1) 66 (79.5) 2 (66.7) Missing 1 (.4) 1 (0.5) 0 0 Ableism Yes 13 (4.6) 9 (4.6) 3 (3.6) 1 (33.3) No 269 (951) 187 (94.9) 80 (96.4) 2 (66.7) Missing 1 (0.4) 1 (0.5) 0 0 Open in a new tab Note : For sexual orientation, LGBTQAI+ includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, and self‐described. Transgender individuals are covered under the gender category. Data were missing for ableism, ageism, homophobia, racism, sexism, and religion; however, as these were not directly included in the analysis, the participants were retained in the final sample if they had responded yes to one of the questions. In total, n = 169 participants (59.7%) reported having mental health conditions. Of those, n = 50 individuals reported having one condition, n = 58 had two conditions, n = 26 had three conditions, n = 13 had four conditions, n = 5 had five conditions, and n = 17 did not answer (Table 2 ). TABLE 2. Type of mental health issue respondents ( n = 169) reported experiencing. Mental health issue Number Anxiety 104 (61.5%) Depression 79 (46.7%) ADHD 12 (7.1%) Panic disorder 19 (11.2%) Addiction 3 (1.8%) Eating disorder 22 (13.0%) Loneliness 50 (29.6%) Mood disorder 23 (13.6%) Other (including burnout, PTSD, OCD, sadness, stress, and sleep problems) 9 (5.3%) Open in a new tab Note : Respondents could report more than one condition. Abbreviations: ADHD, attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder; OCD, obsessive‐compulsive disorder; PTSD, post‐traumatic stress disorder Just over a third of participants (33.9%) reported managing their mental health well or very well, 12.4% reported managing it “neither well nor poorly,” and 8.8% reported managing it poorly or very poorly. Of the participants surveyed, 44.5% reported managing imposter syndrome well, while 13.5% struggled, and 20.8% managed neither well nor poorly. 3.2. Individual factors associated with mental health in ECDRs Logistic regression models were carried out one at a time to assess associations of each of the factors with the likelihood of reporting a mental health condition. The individual models that were statistically significant when compared to the null model were age ( X 2 [3] = 13.5, p = 0.004), gender ( X 2 [2] = 4.74, p = 0.03), sexual orientation ( X 2 [1] = 18.25, p < 0.001), underrepresented ( X 2 [1] = 5.16, p = 0.02), impostor syndrome ( X 2 [1] = 68.908, p < 0.001), financial problems ( X 2 [1] = 16.5, p < 0.001), and discrimination ( X 2 [1] = 16.46, p < .001). Position, racial minority, dependents under 18, relocation, contract length, and time left in contract were not significant. See Table 3 and Figure 3A for details. TABLE 3. Individual models between each factor and self‐reported mental health conditions in respondents. Variable N Wald Df p value Odds ratio 95% confidence interval Position 283 3.37 4 0.497 Undergraduates 1 0.533 0.675 0.196 to 2.322 PhD/graduate student 1 0.275 1.515 0.719 to 3.190 Research fellow 1 0.328 1.459 0.684 to 3.112 Other 1 0.985 0.985 0.341 to 2.878 Age 283 13.21 3 0.004 * Under 25 1 0.396 1.63 0.53 to 4.98 25 to 34 1 0.018 * 2.93 1.20 to 7.16 35 to 44 1 0.733 1.18 0.46 to 2.99 Gender, women 280 1 0.030 * 1.78 1.06 to 2.99 Sexual orientation, LGBTQAI+ 283 1 <0.001 *** 4.66 2.10 to 10.34 Member of an underrepresented group 268 1 0.024 * 1.14 1.08 to 2.90 Experience imposter syndrome 283 1 <0.001 *** 14.31 6.85 to 29.91 Reported financial problems 283 1 <0.001 *** 2.901 1.70 to 4.94 Experience discrimination 283 1 <0.001 *** 2.715 1.64 to 4.43 Racial minority 230 1 0.608 0.854 0.47 to 1.56 Dependents under 18 280 1 0.254 0.712 0.40 to 1.28 Relocated 283 1 0.602 1.207 0.75 to 1.94 Contract length 273 4 0.645 1 year or less 1 0.287 1.624 0.666 to 3.961 2 to 3 years 1 0.125 1.923 0.834 to 4.434 4 to 5 years 1 0.252 1.686 0.689 to 4.126 Studying/working 1 0.894 1.154 0.142 to 9.385 Time left on contract 267 5.683 3 0.128 Less than a year 1 0.018 * 2.782 1.188 to 6.516 1 to 3 years 1 0.067 2.213 0.945 to 5.180 3+ years 1 0.284 1.889 0.591 to 6.040 Open in a new tab Abbreviations: Df, degrees of freedom; LGBTQAI+, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual/aromantic/ally individuals. FIGURE 3. Open in a new tab Logistic regression analyses of predictors of mental health difficulties among early career researchers (ECRs). (A) Results from individual logistic regressions examining the association between each predictor and mental health difficulties. (B) Multivariable logistic regression including all predictors entered simultaneously. Points represent odds ratios with horizontal bars indicating 95% confidence intervals. Color shading denotes significance level (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, n.s. = not significant). 3.3. Gender interaction with individual factors As previous research highlighted differences in genders, we re‐ran the individual logistic models, including the interaction between variable and gender. No variable interactions with gender were significant. See Table 4 for details. TABLE 4. Gender interaction for each factor and self‐reported mental health conditions in respondents. Variable Df Wald p value Position_gender 5 4.91 0.427 Age_gender 3 6.66 0.603 Underrepresented group_gender 1 0.107 0.743 Sexual orientation_gender 1 0.004 0.952 Time left on contract gender 3 4.61 0.203 Imposter syndrome_gender 1 1.83 0.179 Financial problems_gender 1 0.700 0.403 Racial minority_gender 1 0.001 0.978 Relocation_gender 1 0.59 0.442 Contract length_gender 4 1.42 0.842 Discrimination_gender 1 0.12 0.735 Dependents under 18_gender 1 0.705 0.401 Open in a new tab Abbreviation: Df, degrees of freedom. 3.4. Multivariable logistic model The final model was statistically significant compared to the null model ( X 2 [7] = 104.614, p < 0.001), explained 44% of the variance in having mental health conditions (Nagelkerke R 2 ), and correctly predicted 76.6% of the cases. Having financial problems ( p = 0.002), experiencing imposter syndrome ( p < 0.001), identifying as non‐heterosexual ( p = 0.009), and being aged 25 to 34 ( p = 0.023) were significantly associated with greater odds of reporting a mental health condition, while perceptions of oneself as being underrepresented, experiencing discrimination, and gender were not significantly associated. See Table 5 and Figure 3B for details TABLE 5. Multivariable model between factors and self‐reported mental health condition. Variable Wald Df p value Odds ratio 95% confident interval Age 12.80 3 0.005 Under 25 1 0.270 2.38 0.51 to 11.11 25 to 34 1 0.023 3.69 1.20 to 11.37 35 to 44 1 0.877 1.09 0.35 to 3.43 Member of underrepresented groups 1 0.411 1.31 0.69 to 2.52 Sexual orientation, LGBTQAI+ 1 0.009 4.10 1.43 to 11.73 Experience imposter syndrome 1 <0.001 13.044 6.50 to 30.39 Report financial problems 1 0.002 3.08 1.50 to 6.36 Experience discrimination 1 0.130 1.67 0.63 to 2.26 Gender, women 1 0.465 1.32 0.63 to 2.80 Open in a new tab Abbreviations: Df, degrees of freedom, LGBTQAI+, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual/aromantic/ally individuals. 4. DISCUSSION This study explored personal and external factors associated with mental health among ECDRs. The findings suggest that in the present sample of ECDRs, experiencing imposter syndrome, financial issues, being aged 25 to 34, and identifying as non‐heterosexual were associated with increased odds of having a mental health condition. Other factors, including racial minority status, discrimination, other age ranges, and work‐specific factors like contract length, relocation, and position, were not significantly associated in this sample. The results are similar to those of other research exploring mental health in ECRs from other fields, the self‐reported prevalence of mental health conditions was higher than reported in other studies (59.7% vs 32% to 42%) 4 , 8 , and the impact of imposter syndrome in this sample was substantially more pronounced than in general academic populations. However, we were unable to determine whether these results are due to being a dementia researcher or another variable. Although being a woman was associated with mental health conditions in the unadjusted analysis, this association was non‐significant in the multivariable model, suggesting mediation by other factors. Thus, the mechanisms driving the elevated mental health conditions in women appear to operate through these mediating factors rather than solely through the effect of gender itself. Imposter syndrome, reported by 77% of participants, involves feeling inadequate or fraudulent despite evident competence and is linked to stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, and low self‐esteem. 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 Individuals with imposter syndrome tend to attribute accomplishments to external factors, such as luck, the kindness of others, or deceit, rather than to their own abilities. 50 The results from this study are consistent with previous research across a range of professions (e.g., academics, clinicians, health science students). 42 , 43 , 44 , 49 , 51 The causal relationship between imposter syndrome and mental health remains unclear, warranting further research. 44 Financial problems were another significant variable. ECRs face widespread instability, including delayed reimbursements, limited funding, and competition for grants, with marginalized groups and parents disproportionately affected. 2 , 39 Previous researchers highlighted support for income and funding generation as one of the top three critical needs for ECDRs. 52 Contract length in postdoctoral research can also contribute to financial instability. While contract length was not significantly associated with mental health conditions in the current study, the variability in funding and job opportunities could contribute to career uncertainty, leading to anxiety and stress for ECRs, exacerbated by challenges in obtaining grants and a mismatch between the number of PhD graduates and available postdoctoral positions. 4 , 53 The COVID‐19 pandemic exacerbated financial problems, disproportionately negatively affecting ECRs both personally and professionally. 54 Early research during the pandemic predicted significant financial losses for institutions, potentially leading to hiring freezes and layoffs, with ECRs particularly vulnerable. Our survey was conducted during the third wave of the pandemic, and thus, the impact of COVID‐19 must be considered. Many ECRs feared that the pandemic would adversely affect their career progression, thereby creating financial concerns. 53 Lockdowns paused research activities and forced many ECRs to secure funding extensions or additional funding amid pre‐existing challenges and funding cuts. 54 , 55 Using the same survey data, our group previously reported that 41.8% of participants indicated that funding and job limitations negatively affected their career progression. 22 These funding and career concerns can increase anxiety among ECRs. 54 The predominance of fixed‐term contracts in our sample (245 of 273 participants) may explain why contract length itself was not predictive. Being aged 25 to 34 was associated with higher odds of reporting a mental health condition, likely reflecting a period of overlapping career and personal life stressors. Individuals in this age range are typically completing a PhD or in early postdoctoral roles, 56 , 57 often facing short‐term contracts, job insecurity, 58 , 59 and life transitions such as marriage, parenthood, or homeownership. 60 These combined pressures may contribute to the elevated prevalence of mental health conditions observed in this group. 61 In Van der Weijden et al. 61 , postdocs reported that role uncertainty was complicated when they had children, especially when they had to relocate after their contracts ended. The current study did not ask about factors in an individual's personal life that could influence mental health conditions. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether an increased mental health in individuals aged 25 to 34 is linked explicitly to ECRs. , , Protective factors can potentially mitigate these risks and negative impacts. Resilience can help reduce depression, anxiety, and sleep issues when individuals are faced with adversities. 62 Social, emotional, and instrumental support from supervisors, peers, friends, or family can reduce the risk of mental health conditions, help manage challenges, and support individuals' career progression. 63 , 64 Participants reported relying primarily on friends and colleagues (82.6%) and mentors, advisors, and supervisors (52.2%) to manage imposter syndrome and on non‐work friends or family for mental health (70.8%) and financial concerns (60.3%). 39 Formal institutional support was limited, with few participants finding their institution helpful in managing imposter syndrome or mental health, highlighting a clear need for structural interventions such as mentorship programs, peer networks, and accessible mental health services. A strong sense of belonging to the research community and supervisory support that balances guidance with independence were important protective factors. 63 , 64 Survey results indicated that while some ECRs managed their mental health and imposter syndrome well, a substantial proportion continued to struggle, reflecting uneven coping across the cohort. Other research into ECRs' mental health showed similar trends. A recent German survey reported high rates of anxiety and depression among postdocs, substantially higher than the German population average and an increase from their 2022 survey. 65 The survey further highlighted financial insecurity, immigration bureaucracy, and limited career prospects as significant challenges. Our findings mirror these results, suggesting that ECDRs’ challenges reflect a broad systemic issue in academia. 4.1. Recommendations to address factors that influence mental health While this study cannot determine causal relationships between factors and mental health, previous research recommended strategies and interventions to address imposter syndrome and financial issues, which could subsequently improve ECR mental health. Future research should further assess causal relationships and potential avenues for intervention. 4.1.1. Imposter syndrome Interventions can operate at individual (e.g., cognitive reframing, journaling, skill‐building, therapy), peer (workshops, discussion groups, communities of practice), and organizational levels (supervisory training, mentorship, addressing systemic biases, small grants, reducing a “failure culture”). 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 These approaches aim to raise awareness, normalize discussion, foster belonging and empathy, and facilitate shared learning and collaboration. 66 , 67 However, openly discussing imposter syndrome can pose challenges for marginalized staff and students, who may require additional support. Institutional approaches are vital as systemic factors often drive imposter syndrome. 43 , 68 High‐quality quantitative and qualitative research is needed to identify the most effective interventions. 66 4.1.2. Financial strain Structural reforms are required to improve financial stability, including addressing limited funding, short‐term contracts, and precarious postdoctoral positions. 52 Recommendations include block grants to universities to fund salaries rather than individual competition for grants, transition funding after the PhD is completed, alignment of pay with living costs, and streamlined reimbursement systems. 39 , 52 4.2. Strength and limitations To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore self‐reported mental health conditions in ECDRs, linking multiple internal and external factors. Key strengths include detailed participant characterization, allowing assessment of independent associations across numerous factors, and the survey's global reach, with responses from 31 countries through collaborations with organizations such as ISTAART and Dementia Researcher. However, most responses came from the USA, UK, and the Netherlands, limiting generalizability to other regions. The sample was also gender‐skewed toward women. This aligns with online survey response trends 69 and the predominance of women in care and social research fields. 39 , 70 , 71 Small numbers of men and non‐binary participants limited statistical power and prevented full statistical analysis in these groups, highlighting the need for future research to recruit sufficient participants from these groups for subgroup analyses. Mental health was self‐reported without requiring a clinical diagnosis, and timing or duration of conditions was not captured, limiting conclusions about academia's influence. Prospectively validated mental health questionnaires are recommended in addition to self‐reports. Lastly, collapsing discrimination data into a total score restricted insight into specific discriminatory experiences, underscoring the need for research examining detailed discrimination experiences and their association with mental health in ECDRs. 4.3. Future research ECDRS’ mental health is complex and influenced by multiple factors. While this study identified several factors, the limited sample size and post hoc approach restricted the number of factors that could be explored. For example, future research may wish to gather data on research track versus tenure track, as they can have different expectations that could influence mental health. Further research should also validate the proposed conceptual model, notably by exploring protective factors and recruiting larger, more diverse samples, including participants from non‐Western contexts, to develop recommendations tailored to different sociocultural environments. This study only reported associations, preventing conclusions about causality. Participants were not asked about perceived contributors to their mental health, highlighting the need for longitudinal studies examining both personal and professional factors and their interactions to clarify mechanisms and inform interventions. With only seven non‐binary participants, insight into this group was limited. However, there is evidence of high mental health vulnerability in this group. 72 , 73 Future researchers should explore mental health factors in non‐binary ECDRs and the adequacy of tailored support provided in academia. 5. CONCLUSION Mental health conditions are more prevalent among academics, especially in ECRs, than in the general population, with the general population prevalence being 29%, 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 9 potentially due to higher rates of imposter syndrome, financial problems, and discrimination, which may be due to the academic structure, such as long hours, a publish‐or‐perish culture, and competition for grants. 4 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 This prevalence may be even higher in healthcare disciplines. 74 As dementia rates rise and a cure has yet to be discovered, it is crucial to address mental health challenges among ECDRs to ensure a robust research community that can conduct high‐quality research to prevent, diagnose, and treat dementia. This study identified imposter syndrome, financial problems, and sexual orientation as key factors associated with ECDRs′ mental health, aligning with previous research. To build on the present findings, future research should focus on longitudinal designs where causality can be determined and on increasing the external validity of study findings to diverse groups. In the future, support targeting these factors on individual, group, and organizational levels are needed to promote the mental health and well‐being of ECDRs and, thus, ensure a sustained workforce in dementia research and practice. CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT EH is a member of the INTERDEM Academy Management Board. CES is a member of the ISTAART Advisory Council and Co‐chair of the Sex and Gender Special Interest Group of the Diversity and Disparities PIA in ISTAART. AW is Communication Chair of the ISTAART Neuroimaging PIA. SB is the chair of INTERDEM Academy and current (2024 to 2026) program's chair of ISTAART PEERs. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Author disclosures are available in the Supporting Information . CONSENT STATEMENT All participants provided informed consent before taking part in the study. Supporting information Supporting file 1: alz71364‐sup‐0001‐ICMJE.pdf ALZ-22-e71364-s002.pdf (1.2MB, pdf) Supporting file 2: alz71364‐sup‐0002‐SuppMat.docx ALZ-22-e71364-s001.docx (18.7KB, docx) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors would like to thank all other PEERs PIA researchers involved in the original conceptualization, 39 on which this secondary analysis study was based. This manuscript was facilitated by the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART), through the Professional Interest Area (PIA) to Elevate Early Career Researchers (PEERs). The views and opinions expressed by the authors in this publication represent those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the PIA membership, ISTAART, or the Alzheimer's Association. No specific funding was received for this work. EH was supported by a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research Postdoctoral Fellowship (C091), and funding from the NIHR Clinical Research Network East Midlands (UF18 and USF19). CES is supported by award K01AG071849 and P30AG066468 from the National Institute on Aging at the US National Institutes of Health. The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, or the Department of Health and Social Care. The other Authors did not receive any funding for this piece of work. Contributor Information Bryony Waters‐Harvey, Email: [email protected]. Sara Laureen Bartels, Email: [email protected]. REFERENCES 1. Christian K, Johnstone C, Larkins J, Wright W, Doran MR. A survey of early‐career researchers in Australia. eLife. 2021;10:e60613. doi: 10.7554/eLife.60613 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 2. Eleftheriades R, Pasic M, Fiala C. The challenges and mental health issues of academic trainees. F1000Res. 2020;9:104. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.21066.1 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 3. Evans MC, Cvitanovic C. An introduction to achieving policy impact for early career researchers. Palgrave Commun. 2018;4(1):88. doi: 10.1057/s41599-018-0144-2 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 4. Levecque K, Anseel F, De Beuckelaer A, Van der Heyden J, Gisle L. Work organization and mental health problems in PhD students. Res Policy. 2017;46(4):868‐879. doi: 10.1016/j.respol.2017.02.008 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 5. Eisenberg D, Gollust SE, Golberstein E, Hefner JL. Prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality among university students. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2007;77(4):534‐542. doi: 10.1037/0002-9432.77.4.534 [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 6. Hussain R, Guppy M, Robertson S, Temple E. Physical and mental health perspectives of first year undergraduate rural university students. BMC Public Health. 2013;13(1):848. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-848 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 7. Moran H, Karlin L, Lauchlan E, et al. Understanding research culture: what researchers think about the culture they work in. Wellcome Open Res. 2020;5:201. doi: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15832.1 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 8. Guthrie S, Lichten C, Harte E, Parks S, Wooding S. International mobility of researchers: a survey of researchers in the UK. Published for the Royal Society. RAND Europe. 2017. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1991.html [ Google Scholar ] 9. Nicholls H, Nicholls M, Tekin S, Lamb D, illings J. The impact of working in academia on researchers’ mental health and well‐being: a systematic review and qualitative meta‐synthesis. PLoS One. 2022;17(5):e0268890. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268890 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 10. Teixeira Da Silva JA. The Matthew effect impacts science and academic publishing by preerentially amplifying citations, metrics and status. Scientometrics. 2021;126:5373‐5377. doi: 10.1007/s11192-021-03967-2 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 11. Ballarino G, Cantalini S. The PhD premium: diverging occupational returns to the PhD credential in 20 European countries. Res High Educ. 2025;67(1):2. doi: 10.1007/s11162-025-09874-2 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 12. Kwon D. How many PhDs does the world need? Doctoral graduates vastly outnumber jobs in academia. Nature. 2025;643(8070);16‐17. doi: 10.1038/d41586-025-01855-w [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 13. Gloria CT, Steinhardt MA. Relationships among positive emotions, coping, resilience and mental health. Stress Health. 2016;32(2):145‐156. doi: 10.1002/smi.2589 [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 14. Woolston C. Graduate survey; uncertain futures. Nature. 2015;526:597‐600. doi: 10.1038/nj7574-597a [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 15. Woolston C. Workplace habits: full‐time is full enough. Nature. 2017;546:175‐177. doi: 10.1038/nj7656-175a [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 16. Glover KM. Graduate student life brief. In National Association of Graduate Professional Students. Academic Press Inc; 2019. doi: 10.1006/jvbe.2001.1804 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 17. Warner SB, Stecuła DA. PhD stipends and program placement success in political science. Research and Politics. 2024;11(2). doi: 10.1177/20531680241241131 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 18. Powell K. Young, talented and fed‐up. Nature. 2016;538:446‐449. [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 19. Hyun JK, Quinn BC, Madon T, Lustig S. Graduate student mental health: needs assessment and utilization of counseling services. J Coll Student Dev. 2006;47(3):247‐266. doi: 10.1353/csd.2006.0030 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 20. Hyun J, Quinn B, Madon T, Lustig S. Mental health need, awareness, and use of counseling services among international graduate students. J Am Coll Health. 2007;56(2):109‐118. doi: 10.3200/JACH.56.2.109-118 [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 21. Bartels SL, Shaaban CE, Brum WS, et al. Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on early career dementia researchers: a global online survey. PLoS One. 2022;17:e0277470. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277470 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 22. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine . The Impact of COVID‐19 on the Careers of Women in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The National Academies Press; 2021. doi: 10.17226/26061 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 23. Park DS. The invisible university Is COVID‐19 positive. Trends Genet. 2020;36(8):543‐544. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2020.05.010 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 24. McManus S, Bebbington P, Jenkins R, Brugha T, eds. Mental Health and Wellbeing in England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014. NHS Digital; 2016. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/adult‐psychiatric‐morbidity‐survey‐mental‐health‐and‐wellbeing‐england‐2014 [ Google Scholar ] 25. Bränström R, Hughes TL, Pachankis JE. Global LGBTQ mental health. Global LGBTQ Health. Springer; 2024:45‐78. [ Google Scholar ] 26. Barreira P, Basilico M, Bolotnyy V. Graduate student mental health: lessons from American economic departments. J Econ Lit. 2022;60(4):1188‐1222. doi: 10.1257/jel.20201555 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 27. Friesenhahn I, Beaudry C. The Global State of Young Scientists‐ Project Report and Recommendations, The Global Young Academy & Berlin Brandenburg Academy of Science and Humanities. Berlin. 2014. 28. Powell K. Babies on board. Nature. 2019;569:149‐115. doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-01326-5 [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 29. Sousa C, Ferro AS. From passion to burnout: the role of work–family conflict and job satisfaction in the workplace. Soc Sci. 2025;14(2):104. [ Google Scholar ] 30. Wilton S, Ross L. Flexibility, sacrifice, and insecurity: a Canadian study assessing the challenges of balancing work and family in academia. J Feminist Family Ther. 2017;29(12):6687. doi: 10.1080/08952833.2016.1272663 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 31. Limas JC, Corcoran LC, Baker AN, Cartaya AE, Ayres ZJ. The impact of research culture on mental health & diversity in STEM. Chem Eur J. 2022;28(9):e202102957. doi: 10.1002/chem.202102957 [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 32. Prince M, Wimo A, Guerchet M, Ali GC, Wu YT, Prina M. World Alzheimer Report 2015 The Global Impact of Dementia An Analysis of Prevalence, Incidence, Cost And Trends. Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI). 2015. [ Google Scholar ] 33. Alfaris E, Irfan F, Qureshi R, et al. Health professions’ students have an alarming prevalence of depressive symptoms: exploration of the associated factors. BMC Med Educ. 2016;16(1):279. doi: 10.1186/s12909-016-0794-y [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 34. Sobey AJ, Townsend NC, Metcalf CD, Bruce KD, Fazi FM. Incorporation of early career researchers within multidisciplinary research at academic institutions. Res Eval. 2013;22(3):169‐178. doi: 10.1093/reseval/rvt004 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 35. McAlpine L, Pyhältö K, Castelló M. Building a more robust conception of early career researcher experience: what might we be overlooking?. Stud Contin Educ. 2018;40(2):149‐165. doi: 10.1080/0158037X.2017.1408582 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 36. Browning L, Thompson K, Dawson D. From early career researcher to research leader: survival of the fittest?. J High Educ Policy Manag. 2017;39(4):361‐377. doi: 10.1080/1360080X.2017.1330814 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 37. Boeren E, Lokhtina‐Antoniou I, Sakurai Y, Herman C, McAlpine L. Mentoring: a review of early career researcher studies. Frontline Learn Res. 2015;3(3):68‐80. doi: 10.14786/flr.v3i3.186 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 38. Bielczyk NZ, Ando A, Badhwar AP, et al. Effective self‐management for early career researchers in the natural and life sciences. Neuron. 2020;106(92):212‐217. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.03.015 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 39. Smith A, Shaaban CE, Bartels SL, Welikovitch L, Brum W, Folarin R. Listening to Early Career Researchers. 2022. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/survey 40. Smith A, Dupont C, Karamacoska D, et al. Experiences and perceptions of sexism in dementia research careers: a global crosssectional survey. Alzheimers Dement. 2025;21(4):e70123. doi: 10.1002/alz.70123 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 41. Armstrong MJ, Shulman LM. Tackling the imposter phenomenon to advance women in neurology. Neurol Clin Pract. 2019;9(2):155‐159. doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000607 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 42. Bravata DM, Watts SA, Keefer AL, et al. Prevalence, predictors, and treatment of impostor syndrome: a systematic review. J Gen Intern Med. 2020;35(4):1252‐1275. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05364-1 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 43. Freeman J, Peisah C. Imposter syndrome in doctors beyond training: a narrative review. Australas Psychiatry. 2022;30(1):49‐54. doi: 10.1177/10398562211036121 [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 44. Judie EricaL, Kurszewski TammyR, Case RandyD. Prevalence and factors of imposter syndrome among health science students: a scoping review. Respir Care Educ Annu. 2022;31:36‐40. [ Google Scholar ] 45. Pervez Adam, Brady LisaL, Mullane Ken, Lo KevinD, Bennett AndrewA, Nelson TerryA. An empirical investigation of mental illness, impostor syndrome, and social support in management doctoral programs. J Manag Educ. 2021;45(1):126‐158. doi: 10.1177/1052562920953195 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 46. Rosenthal S, Schlussel Y, Yaden MB, et al. Persistent impostor phenomenon is associated with distress in medical students. Fam Med. 2021;53(2):118122. doi: 10.22454/FamMed.2021.799997 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 47. Sverdlik A, Hall NC, McAlpine L. Phd imposter syndrome: exploring antecedents, consequences, and implications for doctoral well‐being. Int J Dr Stud. 2020;15:737‐758. doi: 10.28945/4670 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 48. Tigranyan S, Byington DR, Liupakorn D, et al. Factors related to the impostor phenomenon in psychology doctoral students. Train Educ Prof Psychol. 2021;15(4):298305. doi: 10.1037/tep0000321 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 49. Thomas M, Bigatti S. Perfectionism, impostor phenomenon, and mental health in medicine: a literature review. Int J Med Educ. 2020;11:201‐213. doi: 10.5116/ijme.5f54.c8f8 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 50. Chakraverty D. Faculty experiences of the impostor phenomenon in STEM fields. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2022;21(4):ar84. doi: 10.1187/cbe.21-10-0307 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 51. Muradoglu M, Horne Z, Hammond MD, Lesli SJ, Cimpian A. Women, particularly underrepresented minority women and early‐career academics feel like impostors in fields that value brilliance. J Educ Psychol. 2022;114(5):1086‐1100. doi: 10.1037/edu0000669 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 52. Dupont C, Gilissen J, Dassen FCM, et al. Supporting early‐career dementia researchers: identifying support needs and ways forward via a European study. Alzheimers Dement. 2024;20(2):1321‐1333. doi: 10.1002/alz.13530 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 53. Maher B, Sureda M. Young scientists under pressure: what the data show. Nature. 2016(7626):538. doi: 10.1038/538444a [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 54. Herman E, Nicholas D, Watkinson A, et al. The impact of the pandemic on early career researchers: what we already know from the internationally published literature. Prof Inf. 2021;30(2):1699‐2407. [ Google Scholar ] 55. Woolston C. Researchers’ career insecurity needs attention and reform now, says international coalition. Nature Career News. 2021. doi: 10.1038/D41586-021-01548-0 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 56. European University Institute. Academic Careers Observatory . Age Comparisons. European University Institute. August 24, 2018. Accessed Nov, 2025. https://www.eui.eu/ProgrammesandFellowships/AcademicCareersObservatory/CareerComparisons/AgeComparisons [ Google Scholar ] 57. Cilli E, Ranieri J, Guerra F, Di GiacomoD. Early career researchers and mental health: observational study of challenge and wellbeing. Health Sci Rep. 2023;6(11):e1649. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.1649 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 58. Guthrie S, Lichten C, Van Belle J, Ball S, Knack A, Hofman J. Understanding mental health and wellbeing in early career researchers. Rand Health Q. 2018;7(3):e1649 [ Google Scholar ] 59. Loveday V. The neurotic academic: anxiety, casualisation, and governance in the neoliberalising university. J Cult Econ. 2018;11(2):154166. doi: 10.1080/17530350.2018.1426032 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 60. Office for National Statistics . Life events and transitions, UK: 2019. ONS. 2019. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages [ Google Scholar ] 61. Van der Weijden I, Teelken C, de Boer M, Drost M. Career satisfaction of postdoctoral researchers in relation to their expectations for the future. High Educ. 2016;72(1):25‐40. doi: 10.1007/s10734-015-9936-0 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 62. Milicev J, McCann M, Simpson SA, Biello SM, Gardani M. Evaluating mental health and wellbeing of postgraduate researchers: prevalence and contributing factors. Curr Psychol. 2023;42(14):12267‐12280. doi: 10.1007/s12144-021-02309-y [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 63. Casey C, Taylor J, Knight F, Trenoweth S. Understanding the mental health of doctoral students. Encyclopedia. 2023;3(4):1523. doi: 10.3390/encyclopedia3040109 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 64. Pyhältö K, McAlpine L, Peltonen J, Castello M. How does social support contribute to engaging post‐PhD experience?. Eur J High Educ. 2017;7(4):373‐387. doi: 10.1080/21568235.2017.1348239 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 65. Gewin V. Postdoc depression and anxiety rates are rising, finds survey of 872 researchers. Nature Career News. 2025. doi: 10.1038/d41586025024509 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 66. Siddiqui ZK, Church HR, Jayasuriya R, Boddice T, Tomlinson J. Educational interventions for imposter phenomenon in healthcare: a scoping review. BMC Med Educ. 2024;24(1):43. doi: 10.1186/s12909-023-04984-w [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 67. Mulholland K, Nichol D, Gillespie A. It feels like you're going back to the beginning…’: addressing imposter feelings in early career academics through the creation of communities of practice. J Furth High Educ. 2023;47(1):89‐104. doi: 10.1080/0309877X.2022.2095896 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 68. Murray ÓM, Chiu YLT, Wong BTM, Horsburgh J. Deindividualising imposter syndrome: imposter work among marginalised stemm undergraduates in the UK. Sociology. 2023;57(4):749766. doi: 10.1177/00380385221117380 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 69. Becker R. Gender and survey participation: an event history analysis of the gender effects of survey participation in a probabilitybased multiwave panel study with a sequential mixedmode design. Methods Data Anal. 2022;16(1):332. doi: 10.12758/mda.2021.08 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 70. Skills for care . The state of the adult social care sector and workforce. Leeds. 2022. 71. Andreou M, Choi N, Magenti JG, Kohlhaas S, Sancho R. The dementia research career pipeline: gender disparities in publication authorships and grant funding outcomes at different career stages. Health Open Res. 2022;4:18. doi: 10.12688/amrcopenres.13072.1 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 72. Newcomb ME, Hill R, Buehler K, Ryan DT, Whitton SW, Mustanski B. High burden of mental health problems, substance use, violence, and related psychosocial factors in transgender, nonbinary, and genderdiverse youth and young adults. Arch Sex Behav. 2020;49(2):645659. doi: 10.1007/s10508019015339 [ DOI ] [ Google Scholar ] 73. James S, Herman J, Rankin S, Keisling M, Mottet L, Anafi M. The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. 2016. http://www.ustranssurvey.org/reports 74. McKerrow I, Carney PA, Caretta‐Weyer H, Furnari M, Miller Juve A. Trends in medical students’ stress, physical, and emotional health throughout training. Med Educ Online. 2020;25(1):1709278. doi: 10.1080/10872981.2019.1709278 [ DOI ] [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] Associated Data This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article. Supplementary Materials Supporting file 1: alz71364‐sup‐0001‐ICMJE.pdf ALZ-22-e71364-s002.pdf (1.2MB, pdf) Supporting file 2: alz71364‐sup‐0002‐SuppMat.docx ALZ-22-e71364-s001.docx (18.7KB, docx) Articles from Alzheimer's & Dementia are provided here courtesy of Wiley ACTIONS View on publisher site PDF (951.2 KB) Cite Collections Permalink PERMALINK Copy RESOURCES Similar articles Cited by other articles Links to NCBI Databases Cite Copy Download .nbib .nbib Format: AMA APA MLA NLM Add to Collections Create a new collection Add to an existing collection Name your collection * Choose a collection Unable to load your collection due to an error Please try again Add Cancel Follow NCBI NCBI on X (formerly known as Twitter) NCBI on Facebook NCBI on LinkedIn NCBI on GitHub NCBI RSS feed Connect with NLM NLM on X (formerly known as Twitter) NLM on Facebook NLM on YouTube National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20894 Web Policies FOIA HHS Vulnerability Disclosure Help Accessibility Careers NLM NIH HHS USA.gov Back to Top