Does graduate students' satisfaction with research laboratory affect their anxiety? Findings from a cross-sectional study at a Japanese university
This study investigates the relationship between graduate students' satisfaction with their research laboratories and their anxiety levels, using 2017 survey data from a Japanese university. Through correlation analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this study examined how factors suc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1473555/full |
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| author | Li Zheng Weida Deng |
| author_facet | Li Zheng Weida Deng |
| author_sort | Li Zheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the relationship between graduate students' satisfaction with their research laboratories and their anxiety levels, using 2017 survey data from a Japanese university. Through correlation analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this study examined how factors such as laboratory satisfaction, research outcome satisfaction, financial burden, and anxiety are interconnected. The findings reveal three key insights. First, graduate students report the highest levels of anxiety related to future prospects, employment, and economic conditions, and they are most likely to seek advice from parents or partners when experiencing anxiety. Second, satisfaction with the research laboratory significantly reduces anxiety, with the guidance methods of supervisors, interpersonal relationships, and research funding being the most influential factors. Satisfaction with research outcomes also plays a notable mediating role in this relationship. Third, seeking anxiety counseling is associated with increased anxiety levels, particularly when advice is sought from peers. These findings underscore the importance of the research laboratory environment in shaping graduate students' psychological wellbeing and provide a framework for understanding the mechanisms underlying anxiety development. This study highlights the need for universities to address laboratory dynamics and support systems to mitigate graduate student anxiety. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-57b1f906822a462fb87c0290f0412e21 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-57b1f906822a462fb87c0290f0412e212025-08-20T02:39:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-06-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14735551473555Does graduate students' satisfaction with research laboratory affect their anxiety? Findings from a cross-sectional study at a Japanese universityLi Zheng0Weida Deng1School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaCenter for Teaching and Learning Development, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, ChinaThis study investigates the relationship between graduate students' satisfaction with their research laboratories and their anxiety levels, using 2017 survey data from a Japanese university. Through correlation analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this study examined how factors such as laboratory satisfaction, research outcome satisfaction, financial burden, and anxiety are interconnected. The findings reveal three key insights. First, graduate students report the highest levels of anxiety related to future prospects, employment, and economic conditions, and they are most likely to seek advice from parents or partners when experiencing anxiety. Second, satisfaction with the research laboratory significantly reduces anxiety, with the guidance methods of supervisors, interpersonal relationships, and research funding being the most influential factors. Satisfaction with research outcomes also plays a notable mediating role in this relationship. Third, seeking anxiety counseling is associated with increased anxiety levels, particularly when advice is sought from peers. These findings underscore the importance of the research laboratory environment in shaping graduate students' psychological wellbeing and provide a framework for understanding the mechanisms underlying anxiety development. This study highlights the need for universities to address laboratory dynamics and support systems to mitigate graduate student anxiety.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1473555/fullgraduate studentanxietyresearch laboratoryJapanStructural Equation Modeling |
| spellingShingle | Li Zheng Weida Deng Does graduate students' satisfaction with research laboratory affect their anxiety? Findings from a cross-sectional study at a Japanese university Frontiers in Psychology graduate student anxiety research laboratory Japan Structural Equation Modeling |
| title | Does graduate students' satisfaction with research laboratory affect their anxiety? Findings from a cross-sectional study at a Japanese university |
| title_full | Does graduate students' satisfaction with research laboratory affect their anxiety? Findings from a cross-sectional study at a Japanese university |
| title_fullStr | Does graduate students' satisfaction with research laboratory affect their anxiety? Findings from a cross-sectional study at a Japanese university |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does graduate students' satisfaction with research laboratory affect their anxiety? Findings from a cross-sectional study at a Japanese university |
| title_short | Does graduate students' satisfaction with research laboratory affect their anxiety? Findings from a cross-sectional study at a Japanese university |
| title_sort | does graduate students satisfaction with research laboratory affect their anxiety findings from a cross sectional study at a japanese university |
| topic | graduate student anxiety research laboratory Japan Structural Equation Modeling |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1473555/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lizheng doesgraduatestudentssatisfactionwithresearchlaboratoryaffecttheiranxietyfindingsfromacrosssectionalstudyatajapaneseuniversity AT weidadeng doesgraduatestudentssatisfactionwithresearchlaboratoryaffecttheiranxietyfindingsfromacrosssectionalstudyatajapaneseuniversity |