International Journal of Cognitive Research in Science, Engineering and Education (IJCRSEE)

IJCRSEE Editorial Team; Aleksandar Stojadinović; Ana Spasić Stošić; Tatjana Milosavljević Đukić; Ivana Tasić Mitić; Biljana Novković Cvetković; Slobodan Marković

doi:10.23947/2334-8496-2025-13-2-257-272

Authors

Aleksandar Stojadinović University of Nis, Pedagogical Faculty, Vranje, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8102-5423
Ana Spasić Stošić University of Nis, Pedagogical Faculty, Vranje, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4334-5642
Tatjana Milosavljević Đukić University of Nis, Pedagogical Faculty, Vranje, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4237-5364
Ivana Tasić Mitić University of Nis, Pedagogical Faculty, Vranje, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9166-3157
Biljana Novković Cvetković University of Niš, Pedagogical Faculty, Vranje, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0583-7008
Slobodan Marković University of Nis, Pedagogical Faculty, Vranje https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4736-5141

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23947/2334-8496-2025-13-2-257-272

Keywords:

stress, stressogenic aspects, doctoral studies, time management, academic institutional support

Abstract

Update (2025-09-26): Four references were corrected. No changes were made to the article text. See Crossmark: policy DOI.

The combined effects of academic demands, the need for effective time management, balancing work and personal commitments, and financial challenges lead to a significant degree of stress among PhD students. Understanding how stress is perceived and managed is crucial to understanding the challenges faced by PhD students during their most intense period of academic study. The study aims to examine how doctoral students display stress during their studies. A specially designed Questionnaire on how doctoral students perceive and manage stress during their studies was created for this study. It had seven items, and respondents were asked to rate their level of agreement with each one on a five-point Likert-type scale. A sample of 438 doctoral students from the Republic of Serbia with varying demographic, professional, and academic characteristics was used in the study. ANOVA and correlation tests, among other statistical analyses, revealed a high degree of stress related to difficulties balancing personal and academic commitments, particularly for doctoral students who are self-funded and have jobs. Gender differences show that female PhD students experience higher levels of stress, older PhD students struggle to find time for relaxation, and employed respondents report higher levels of stress than their counterparts without jobs. Scientific disciplines also differ, so that PhD students in the humanities report high levels of pressure. In contrast, those in the natural and technical sciences are less stressed by the competitive aspect of their study. The results emphasize the necessity of specialized institutional support services, such as financial aid, mentorship, and adaptable stress management programs, in order to reduce stress and enhance PhD students’ academic experiences.

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