Career unsustainability among PhD students. The link between depression, impostor phenomenon, supervisor support and career insecurity

There is a pressing concern about the mental health conditions of PhD students and how negative mental health can influence the unfolding of an (un)sustainable career. This study employed the Sustainable Careers Framework and the Conservation of Resources theory to investigate the mechanism of unsustainability among PhD students. We hypothesised that depression might affect career insecurity directly and indirectly via impostor phenomenon, and that this relationship is moderated by supervisor support for professional development. We surveyed 217 PhD students from an Italian university who attended a larger project on academic well-being. The results confirmed the indirect effect, with impostor phenomenon mediating the link between depression and career insecurity. Contrary to our expectations, supervisor support amplified this effect. These findings offer novel insights into career unsustainability in academic environments and suggest interventions to better support PhD students. Implications for future research and policy development are discussed.