Objectives: The objectives of this seminar are to 1) examine postdocs’ perceptions of their mental health; and 2) investigate what factors facilitate or hinder healthier mental health outcomes among postdocs. Methods: Data were derived from postdocSERU, a survey designed to examine the experiences of postdocs. The sample included 314 postdocs from the University of Minnesota (response rate 46 percent). Key outcome variables included perceptions of depression and anxiety symptoms in the past two weeks. Independent variables included postdocs’ perceptions of their departmental climate, campus climate for diversity, sense of belonging, faculty mentorship, workload stress, and financial stress, and demographic variables. Results were analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Hispanic and Asian postdocs had greater odds of clinically significant major depressive disorder symptoms (eβ = 5.27, p < .05 and eβ = 4.53, p < .01, respectively) over their peers. Furthermore, postdocs’ sense of belonging reduced their odds of clinically significant major depressive disorder symptoms (eβ = .55, p < .01) while their workload stress was associated with increases in the odds of clinically significant major depressive disorder symptoms (eβ = 2.22, p < .001). Postdocs’ workload stress and financial stress were positively associated with increases in the odds of clinically significant generalized anxiety disorder symptoms (eβ = 1.51, p < .01 and eβ = 1.76, p < .01, respectively). Conclusion: The mental health of postdocs should be of concern to faculty and university leadership as poorer mental health outcomes were associated with workload and financial stress, which are preventable.
