Individual Differences in Language Education: An International Journal

Doctoral Students’ Identities and Emotional Well-Being in Applied Linguistics, edited by Bedrettin Yazan, Ethan Trinh, and Luis Javier Penton Herrera and published in 2023, serves as a groundbreaking exploration of the intricate experiences of doctoral students in the field of applied linguistics. This book focuses on a crossing point where emotional well-being and identity work of doctoral students meet and explore these student’ personal transformation narratives of being challenged by their doctoral journeys. The editors have selected a compilation of 12 autoethnographies that explore the often difficult and oppressive nature of the academic environments and their intersection with personal and professional identities. Moving beyond a traditional scholarly discourse, each chapter delves into the lived experiences of doctoral students focusing on the challenges, failures, and achievements they have gone through while earning a doctoral degree; their personal and professional identity development within immediate academic communities; and the prominent role of emotional well-being while navigating the frequently-tumultuous waters of doctoral study. The book’s overarching goal is to provide a thorough understanding of these challenges and propose ways to build more compassionate and inclusive educational setting for prospective doctoral students.