Findings: Impact on Life

The majority of participants reported that COVID- 19 had impacted upon their lives in some way. Many reported taking on new caring duties, losing work, or having to continue work in new and challenging circumstances. The overall theme was that the anxiety, distress and uncertainty caused by COVID-19 were having a major impact on people's lives, and that this was having an impact on their research.

• 70% of respondents specifically identified impacts to their mental health, limiting their PhD productivity and cognitive capacity. This ranged from stress, anxiety and depression, to compounded impacts on people with preexisting mental health diagnoses conditions who were experiencing increased symptoms.

• Many of these mental health impacts were associated by respondents to other COVID-19 related issues such as loss of work, unstable housing, unwell family members, increased care loads, poor physical health (being at high-risk of contracting and succumbing to COVID19), and social isolation. Due to these concerns, many participants had reoriented their priorities to ensure that they and their communities were prepared to survive this crisis.

• 63% of respondents mentioned family-related impacts in their responses. This included having to rapidly transition to home-schooling children full-time, being separated from family who were overseas or interstate, and persistent concern about family members in high-risk groups.

“I can't focus, I can’t write. I feel alone. I need a proper work space. I can’t think. I’m overwhelmed..."

It is clear from these findings that the majority of graduate researchers are experiencing huge impacts on their broader lives and that this has resulted in flow-on effects on their research. Many have lost employment, or are providing financial and/or emotional support to family and friends in this position. Some are in unstable housing situations and are uncertain about the future. Many are concerned about their families, who may live interstate or overseas. Many graduate researchers are having to shift their focus from their PhD to survival.

Though not all respondents reported experiencing direct impacts of COVID-19, all identified that it had affected communities that they are a part of, such as share houses. The impacts of the virus on respondents can thus be considered an experience of collective trauma. The concept of collective trauma recognises the ripple-like effect a disaster can have through communities and social networks, where even those not severely impacted share the experiences of those around them [1].

“I am a part time student and my job has been disrupted. This has meant that I have been stressed / looking for work / doing other things to make ends meet and have therefore not been focusing on write up."

“It's very hard for me to focus as I feel very unsettled. I don't know when I'm going to see my loved ones, my family and friends again."

“I'm anxious and depressed and can hardly focus on even reading right now. This bloody virus is in my face 24/7 and can't get away from it. From the daily update emails to the doctors to the necessary conversations with friends reassuring them it will be ok."