The presentation will be based on the results of a doctoral thesis supervised by the author
and co-supervised by Professors Francisco José Díaz Medina (University of Seville) and
Jorge Fernando Pereira Sinval (Nanyang Technological University, National Institute of
Education de Singapura). Although studies highlight the effects of the advisor-advisee
relationship on students' mental health and performance, it is also necessary to investigate
how the organizational structure of postgraduate programs may influence this
relationship. The literature points out that the organizational and work context are
important predictors of the mental health of doctoral students and suggests that
universities should consider ways for their policies and cultures to promote the mental
health and well-being of this population. Thus, the main objective of this presentation is
present results about the relation between the organizational structure of doctoral
programs and the mental health and productivity of doctoral students, also highlighting
possible differences in these effects for minority groups. This presentation intent to
discuss the following hipotesis: 1. The Organizational structure affects the mental health
and productivity rates of doctoral students, 2. The more ambiguous and unclear the
organizational norms, the greater the negative impacts on the mental health and
productivity of students, 3. The relationship between organizational structure and mental
health and productivity rates will vary between majority and minority groups (in terms of
gender, race, socioeconomic status and disabilities) and H4. The better defined the
organizational structure of graduate programs, the higher the levels of mental health and
productivity of minority groups. It critically suggests that organizational structure of
posgraduate programs may explain effects in mental health and productivity of doctoral
students.