Prevalence of Imposter Syndrome and Its Risk Factors Among University of Sharjah Medical Students

Zinab Alzufari; Rosul Makkiyah; Aisha Alowais; Aisha Almazrouei; Abdul Kareem A Abu Ali; Abdulaziz Alnaqbi; Jibran Sualeh Muhammad

doi:10.7759/cureus.57039

Prevalence of Imposter Syndrome and Its Risk Factors Among University of Sharjah Medical Students

Cureus. 2024 Mar 27;16(3):e57039. doi: 10.7759/cureus.57039. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Authors

Zinab Alzufari¹, Rosul Makkiyah¹, Aisha Alowais¹, Aisha Almazrouei¹, Abdul Kareem A Abu Ali¹, Abdulaziz Alnaqbi¹, Jibran Sualeh Muhammad²

Affiliations

¹ College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, ARE.
² Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, ARE.

Abstract

Background Imposter syndrome describes an internal experience of intellectual fraud, where individuals attribute their academic or occupational endeavors and achievements primarily to luck rather than to their diligent efforts. Additionally, the stringent standards and prerequisites set by medical institutions create an environment conducive to impostorism among medical students. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and severity of imposter syndrome among medical students at the University of Sharjah. Methodology This research was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study. A total of 400 participants enrolled in the study using non-probability convenience sampling, but 399 participants, 49.4% (197) from colleges of medicine and 50.6% (202) from dentistry, successfully completed the questionnaire. Participants completed a questionnaire containing the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale. Statistical associations between variables were tested using the chi-square test. Individuals with chronic medical conditions or those using medications with known psychiatric side effects were excluded. Results The analyzed sample comprised 399 students, with 64.7% females and 35.3% males. Most respondents were from year 2 (21.3%, 85), while the fewest were from year 5 (18.3%, 73). The majority of students fell into the categories of moderate (46.4%, 185) and frequent (35.8%, 143) imposter experiences. Among all investigated characteristics, pure academic factors such as field of study (p = 0.001), study phases (p = 0.032), advisor's attitude (p = 0.029), and comparison with peers' performance and grades (p = 0.024 and <0.001, respectively) exhibited the highest significant association with the severity of imposter syndrome. Conclusions This study revealed a high prevalence of imposter syndrome among medical students, emphasizing the need for comprehensive strategies and interventions targeting academically associated risk factors to alleviate the burden of imposter syndrome.

Keywords: behavioral health; imposter syndrome; medical education; medical students; occupational health; psychiatry; psychology health; united arab emirates (uae).