Examining How Supervisor–Student Relationship Types Influence Depression in Doctoral Students: The Role of Mediating Mechanisms

This study explores how different types of supervisor–doctoral student relationships affect depression levels in doctoral students and examines the chain mediating roles of psychological resilience and self‐esteem. A survey was conducted among current doctoral students, with 439 valid responses collected. Using ANOVA and mediation analysis, the study identified significant associations between relationship types and depression levels. Specifically, leadership–cooperation and cooperation–submission relationships were negatively related to depression, whereas submission–opposition and opposition–leadership relationships were positively related. Moreover, psychological resilience and self‐esteem had significant chain mediating effects. Doctoral students in extended years reported greater levels of depression and more tense relationships. Gender differences appeared in the cooperation–submission type, and students in hard sciences scored higher in opposition–leadership relationships than did those in soft sciences. Based on interpersonal relationship theory, this study confirms the influence of supervisor–doctoral student relationship types on depression levels in doctoral students, as well as the chain mediating roles of psychological resilience and self‐esteem. These findings contribute to improving doctoral students’ mental health and enhancing supervisor–student relationships.