Abstract
Students who enter post-baccalaureate studies face numerable challenges during their tenure in graduate
school. Although researchers have studied these inherent challenges, a gap exists in the literature
concerning doctoral students and the impact of their studies on their personal relationships. As such, the
purpose of this collective case study was to examine the effect that doctoral studies have on the relationships
between select doctoral students and their partners. Semi-structured interviews of six participants, selected
via convenience sampling (i.e., current doctoral students who have been in relationships during their
doctoral studies), generated data concerning challenges, coping mechanisms, personal emotions, and
relationship concerns. These findings provided a composite understanding of the potential inherent
struggles of doctoral students and the corresponding role that their doctoral studies have on the
relationships of these specific doctoral students and their partners that matched much of the findings noted
in the literature. It is the researchers’ hope that the results will help guide future researchers but urge
caution concerning the generalizability of the information gained from this study due to its small sample
size.