Understanding the Burnout Experiences of Female PhD Students: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study

Doctoral student burnout represents a critical global concern, yet the lived experiences of this phenomenon among women in the rapidly evolving Chinese higher education context remain inadequately understood. Employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study explored the psychological trajectory of burnout among six female PhD students. Interpreted through the lenses of Maslach’s three-dimensional model, the analysis reveals a dynamic, sequential progression of burnout organized into three superordinate themes: starting with exhaustion, moving to detachment, and culminating in reduced accomplishment. This progression underscores burnout not as a static state but as a dynamic process intensified by gendered socio-academic pressures. The study concludes with implications for developing more flexible, gender-sensitive support structures designed to support the well-being of female doctoral students.