The pressure to publish and its impact on anxiety among graduate students

Estrada-Araoz E.G. · Revista Cubana de Medicina Militar (2026)

Resumen

Introduction: Scientific research has become the central focus of postgraduate programs. Publishing in indexed journals has also become a requirement for graduation. This practice imposes demands that affect students’ educational experience and mental health, among which anxiety is one of the most frequently reported problems. Objective: To analyze how the pressure to publish influences anxiety among graduate students. Opinion: The requirement to write articles within short timeframes, under international standards and with limited resources, increases anxiety and undermines well-being. This distress affects motivation, social relationships, and creativity, and in some cases encourages the adoption of questionable research practices. In addition, gender inequalities and structural gaps in Latin America have been identified, which further amplify students’ psychological vulnerability. Conclusions: Anxiety linked to pressure to publish reflects a structural problem in postgraduate education, driven by criteria focused on quantity and indexation.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Amazónica de Madre de Dios