Impostor Syndrome and its association with depression and burnout among medical students

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: The Impostor Syndrome (IS) is characterized as inability to internalize success and tendency to attribute success to external causes such as luck, error or ignorance of other people. Despite the recent increase in the number of IS publications, studies on this condition in undergraduate medical students and the impact on mental health are scarce. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of IS and its association with Burnout Syndrome (BS) and depression. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study was carried out with undergraduate medical students at a university center in Northeast Brazil. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Student Survey (MBI-SS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used. Results: Of the 425 students assessed, 47 (11.06%), 151 (35.53%), 163 (38.35%) and 64 (15.06%) had mild, moderate, severe and very severe IS symptoms, respectively. Not being married, having a low level of physical activity and not contributing to family income were associated with severe or very severe IS symptoms (p < .001, p = .032 and p = .025, respectively). Previous medical diagnosis of depression, anxiety and use of antidepressants are also associated with severe or very severe IS symptoms (p = .019, p = .006 and p = .011, respectively). In addition, there was a positive correlation between the CIPS and PHQ-9 scale scores (p = .459, p < .001), and an association between BS (Emotional Exhaustion and Cynicism dimensions) and IS (p < .001). Conclusion: This study identified an association between IS and BS and depression among undergraduate medical students. Further studies with interventions against IS may show a positive impact on mental health.