ABSTRACT
Graduate students are not a monolithic group. As individuals, they vary enormously in talents, interests, personality, social skills, financial resources, available support systems and family constellations. Graduate students in doctoral programs occupy a critical role as teachers of undergraduates; they often are thrust onto the front lines and forced to deal with the complex emotional problems of undergraduates. Graduate students occupy multiple roles, not only within the university but also within society. They must meet the demands of life outside of the classroom, library, or laboratory as husbands, wives, parents, lovers, teachers and perhaps sons and daughters of aging parents. Graduate programs come in many shapes and sizes. Some programs, usually in professional fields, are clearly defined in terms of duration, formal course requirements and regularly scheduled examinations that students must pass to receive a degree. The nature of the curriculum and the support network affect the level of stress that students experience.
