Investigating impostorism among undergraduate medical students at Sultan Qaboos University: a questionnaire-based study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Imposter syndrome (IS) is a psychological pattern where successful individuals fail to recognize their achievements and often attribute them to good luck and timing. The presence of Imposter syndrome among medical students is gaining more attention, with studies reporting a strong association with burnout phenomenon, anxiety, and depression. Objectives: This study sought to determine the prevalence of IS among Omani medical students and classify the levels of severity among the sample. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, observational study conducted at a public university in Muscat, Oman. The Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), a validated publicly available questionnaire, was used to determine whether students exhibited impostorism and, if so, its severity. Students who scored 63 or higher in the CIPS were classified as impostors. Results: A total of 276 students participated (M 34%, F 66%), of which 144 (52.2%) were found to have Impostor Syndrome with 12.7% exhibiting severe impostorism. Conclusion: The results show that IS present in significant frequencies among medical students; further studies are needed to address this problem.