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Research papers on Impostor syndrome

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  1. Contextualizing the Impostor “Syndrome”

    Sanne Feenstra, Christopher T. Begeny, Michelle K. Ryan, et al. · 2020 · Frontiers in Psychology · 173 citations

    The impostor “syndrome” refers to the notion that some individuals feel as if they ended up in esteemed roles and positions not because of their competencies, but because of some oversight or stroke of luck. Such individuals therefore feel like frauds or “impostors”. Despite the fact that impostor feelings are often linked to marginalized groups in society, to date, research predominantly approaches this phenomenon as an issue of the individual: pointing towards individuals for the roots and solutions of the “syndrome”. Drawing from a rich body of social and organizational psychology research, in this perspectives piece, we propose a shift in how scholars conceptualize and empirically examin

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  2. PhD Student Experiences with the Impostor Phenomenon in STEM

    Devasmita Chakraverty · 2020 · International journal of doctoral studies · 64 citations

    Aim/Purpose: This US-based study explored various facets of impostor phenomenon experienced during PhD training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Specifically, the purpose of this research was to identify certain experiences that trigger this phenomenon. Background: Competent high-achievers who do not believe in their efforts leading to accomplishments sometimes experience the impostor phenomenon. It is characterized by the notion that one has fooled others into overestimating their ability, not attributing one’s accomplishments to ability, and living with the fear of being discovered as a fraud. Methodology: Data were collected using convenience and snowball sampl

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  3. The impostor phenomenon at work: A systematic evidence‐based review, conceptual development, and agenda for future research

    Daniel P. Gullifor, William L. Gardner, Elizabeth P. Karam, et al. · 2023 · Journal of Organizational Behavior · 59 citations

    Summary The impostor phenomenon (IP) was originally identified over 40 years ago, and there has been a recent surge in its examination across domains of management research. However, a lack of a comprehensive review that synthesizes organizationally‐relevant IP research has left IP research dispersed across time and disciplines with diminished conceptual clarity and an incoherent nomological network. We address these shortcomings by conducting a systematic review of IP in the workplace. We review 188 scholarly works (111 articles and 77 dissertations) published from 1978 to 2023 and summarize these data to describe the current state of the workplace‐relevant IP literature. Moreover, we map t

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  5. Measuring impostor phenomenon among health sciences librarians

    Jill Barr‐Walker, Michelle Beth Bass, Debra A. Werner, et al. · 2019 · Journal of the Medical Library Association JMLA · 37 citations

    OBJECTIVE: Impostor phenomenon, also known as impostor syndrome, is the inability to internalize accomplishments while experiencing the fear of being exposed as a fraud. Previous work has examined impostor phenomenon among academic college and research librarians, but health sciences librarians, who are often asked to be experts in medical subject areas with minimal training or education in these areas, have not yet been studied. The aim of this study was to measure impostor phenomenon among health sciences librarians. METHODS: A survey of 2,125 eligible Medical Library Association (MLA) members was taken from October to December 2017. The online survey featuring the Harvey Impostor Phenomen

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  6. Interventions addressing the impostor phenomenon: a scoping review

    Emma Para, Philippe Dubreuil, Paule Miquelon, et al. · 2024 · Frontiers in Psychology · 31 citations

    Introduction: The Impostor Phenomenon (IP) refers to a psychological experience characterized by unjustified feelings of intellectual and professional fraud, accompanied by the fear of not maintaining performance and of being exposed. IP is receiving increasing attention in the fields of psychological health at work and occupational psychology as well as among the general public, since it affects the functioning of both individuals and organizations. The aim of this scoping review is to map the range of interventions that have been conducted to address IP among individuals experiencing it in a professional context. Methods: The search and selection process to identify relevant reports was co

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  8. Prevalence and Predictor of Impostor Phenomenon Among Medical Students at Jouf University, Saudi Arabia

    Marwa Naggar, Taif Alanazi, Norah A Alsayer, et al. · 2023 · Cureus · 16 citations

    BACKGROUND AND AIM: The impostor phenomenon (IP) was defined in 1978 as an "internal feeling of intellectual phoniness felt by people with outstanding academic and professional achievements." This study aims to estimate the prevalence and predictors of IP among medical students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to May 2023. A total of 200 medical students from years one to five participated in the survey; the response rate was 82.5% (165). A stratified random sampling technique was used to select groups of male and female Jouf University medical students from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th batches of the 2022 to 2023 academic year. An e-mail with a self-admi

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  9. Rethinking the impostor phenomenon: An umbrella review of concept, context and interventions

    Mia Gisselbaek, Mohamed Seyour, Sarah Saxena, et al. · 2025 · Medical Education · 12 citations

    BACKGROUND: Impostor Phenomenon (IP) is a psychological experience characterized by persistent self-doubt and an inability to internalize achievements, leading to negative emotional and professional consequences. In health professions education (HPE), IP is of particular concern because it has been linked to learner well-being, professional development and potentially to patient safety. Despite growing interest in IP within health care and academic settings, uncertainties remain about how IP is conceptualized, the contextual factors that shape its occurrence and the effectiveness of interventions to address it. This umbrella review synthesizes existing systematic and scoping reviews to exami

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  11. Impostorization in Academia, Psychological Distress, and Class Reproduction

    Jo Carol Phelan · 2024 · Society and Mental Health · 6 citations

    Might “impostor syndrome” be more than the private trouble it is often described to be? Instead, might it be deeply rooted in sociological processes? I explore this possibility drawing on my personal experience and Pearlin’s insistence that much that distresses us in our personal lives originates in social structures. I use Bourdieu’s theory to conceptualize the processes that may instill the “syndrome,” and once in place, surreptitiously recreate inequality. I test this conceptualization, using new sociologically relevant measures, in a stratified sample of over 2,000 American college students. Experiencing impostor concerns in college was significantly related to low parental income. Resul

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  13. Women Leaders: Overcoming Impostor Syndrome in Higher Education in Kazakhstan

    Raushan Kanatova · 2023 · Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice · 2 citations

    While impostor syndrome has attracted considerable scholarly interest in the Global North, in the context of Kazakhstan, it was mainly discussed on popular social outlets. This paper explores whether female leaders in higher education in Kazakhstan have experienced impostor feelings and if so, how -if at all- they overcame it. To explore it, a narrative approach was used to interview ten female leaders working in universities of Kazakhstan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the participants’ experience. This first study on Imposter Syndrome in Kazakhstan shows that almost all women leaders face these problems. Based on their experience of impostor syndrome, the participant

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  15. Prevalence of Impostor Phenomenon among Employees in a Higher Education Institution: Implications for Faculty Development And Workplace Well-Being

    Queenne Kimverlee C. Landingin, Belinda A Ramos, Princess Jhoie Corpuz · 2026 · Technium Education and Humanities

    Impostor phenomenon (IP) has expanded across disciplines, but many professional contexts remain under-studied, including institutions of higher education. The study aims to examine the prevalence of impostor phenomenon among employees of the University of La Salette, Inc., which will help to provide a basis for future developments of institutional interventions, mentoring, and employees development initiatives, which constitute employees' well-being and professional growth, organizational efficiency, which further aims to promote the goal of sustainable quality education. The study employed a descriptive quantitative approach to eighty-four (84) employees who respondend to the Clance IP surv

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  16. Impostor syndrome in nurse education: identity and practice

    Maria Tomy · 2026 · British Journal of Nursing

    This commentary explores the growing prevalence of impostor syndrome among nurse lecturers in university settings. Even though impostor syndrome has an impact on personality, wellbeing, and productivity, it frequently goes unnoticed due to the professionalism and resilience associated with the role. Impostor syndrome, or the impostor phenomenon, is characterised by persistent self-doubt despite evident achievement and is particularly recognised among early-career academics adjusting to unfamiliar systems and expectations. The discussion critically analyses impostor syndrome as a contemporary issue in academic practice, drawing on Professional Standards Framework (PSF) dimensions, Staff and E

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  17. Combating Imposter Syndrome and Burnout in Academia

    Alli Cipra, J. Corey Steele · 2026 · The Proceedings of the International Academic Conference on Teaching, Learning and Education.

    Faculty burnout is often a slow process, but stress levels in higher education have increased in recent years. This global issue is a crucial factor in career satisfaction, productivity, and engagement. Examining common triggers can help identify burnout risk earlier. In the current study, nearly half of respondents reported that they have considered leaving their current academic post because of burnout or stress. Another 40% of respondents believe their workload is too heavy. In fact, 62% of respondents reported working more than 40 hours weekly. Many factors impact workplace stress, including job satisfaction, which is associated with burnout. Additionally, student mental health and stude

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  19. PERAN SOCIAL COMPARISON TERHADAP STRES AKADEMIK PADA MAHASISWA DENGAN MEDIATOR IMPOSTOR SYNDROME

    Ninawati Ninawati, Farhan Febrian Shalwa, Yumikha Grace, et al. · 2026 · ACADEMIA: Jurnal Inovasi Riset Akademik

    Academic stress is one of the most prevalent psychological problems experienced by university students due to heavy curricular demands and competitive collegiate environments. This academic pressure is frequently aggravated by social comparison behaviors occurring in daily interactions and digital platforms, which potentially induces severe self-doubt. Therefore, this quantitative study with a cross-sectional design aims to examine the mediating role of impostor syndrome in the relationship between social comparison and academic stress among undergraduate students. A total of 103 active university students in Jakarta completed the Iowa Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (α=0.917), Cl

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  20. Impostor in the Mirror: A Clinician’s Reflection on Impostor Syndrome

    Joseph Home · 2026 · Qeios

    Impostor syndrome, the internalised fear of being exposed as inadequate despite evidence of competence, is common in medicine. Using personal reflections from early training and later leadership roles, this manuscript explores how postgraduate rotations, workplace hierarchies, and professional expectations foster self-doubt among clinicians. The emphasis on reflective practice, while central to professional development, can intensify self-criticism and reinforce feelings of inadequacy when combined with the cultural demand for perfection. Impostor syndrome should be recognised less as an individual failing and more as a systemic issue shaped by medical training and healthcare culture. Addres

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