Stress, Success, and Burnout: The Relationship Between Impostor Phenomenon and Burnout in Certified Child Life Specialists

Abstract

Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) are pediatric healthcare professionals who help prevent and reduce psychological trauma resulting from a medical experience. They aid children and families in coping with the effects of hospitalization, illness, stress, and trauma, primarily in healthcare settings. Because their clinical work includes frequent exposure to trauma and emotional investment with patients, child life specialists are at high risk for developing Impostor Phenomenon (IP), burnout, or a combination of both. The aim of the present study is to better understand how child life specialists experience these phenomena and what factors put them at risk for experiencing IP, burnout, or a combination of these two factors. After surveying a sample of child life specialists (N = 270), IP and burnout experiences were found to be related. Additionally, IP and the impact of COVID-19 on CCLS predicted levels of burnout. By understanding the relationship between IP and burnout, we can work to promote better professional quality of life for CCLS, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.