Supervisor–student relationship and anxiety among graduate students: a moderated mediation model

This study demonstrates that the quality of the supervisor-student relationship is closely associated with graduate students' anxiety and that this link operates partly through general self-efficacy. Positive attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help weakened the association between poor supervisor-student relationship and anxiety and mitigated the decline in general self-efficacy. These findings clarify how interpersonal and psychological factors jointly shape anxiety and suggest that strengthening supportive supervisor-student relationship and fostering favorable attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help may be beneficial for safeguarding the mental health of graduate students.