Impostor phenomenon and psychological outcomes among family medicine residents: a cross-sectional study in Croatia
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of the impostor phenomenon among family medicine residents (FMRs) and its connection with sociodemographic factors and clinically relevant symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. During July 2023, 158 first-year FMRs were inv...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Sciendo
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Arhiv za Higijenu Rada i Toksikologiju |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2025-76-3934 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1839647360971440128 |
|---|---|
| author | Tomičević Sunčana Vlah Lang Valerija Bralić |
| author_facet | Tomičević Sunčana Vlah Lang Valerija Bralić |
| author_sort | Tomičević Sunčana Vlah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of the impostor phenomenon among family medicine residents (FMRs) and its connection with sociodemographic factors and clinically relevant symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. During July 2023, 158 first-year FMRs were invited to fill out an anonymous online questionnaire containing sociodemographic data, history of psychiatric disorders, Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), and the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Seventynine participants responded (50 % response rate) and 59 reported some level of impostor feelings. Clinically relevant symptoms of depression were reported by 17, anxiety by 23, and stress by 20 participants. All 59 participants whose responses indicated impostor feelings above normal also had higher scores for depression, anxiety, and stress (p<0.001 in Mann-Whitney U test). Despite a small sample with uneven gender distribution and self-reported scales, our study found a significant association between the impostor phenomenon and negative mental outcomes. We believe that the impostor phenomenon among FMRs can be addressed effectively with interventions like peer support, mentoring, and practicing self-compassion if started early during medical study and specialisation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a95a1c739d8b4759ab31a9fc9e78b0a7 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1848-6312 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arhiv za Higijenu Rada i Toksikologiju |
| spelling | doaj-art-a95a1c739d8b4759ab31a9fc9e78b0a72025-06-30T06:56:23ZengSciendoArhiv za Higijenu Rada i Toksikologiju1848-63122025-06-0176211311810.2478/aiht-2025-76-3934Impostor phenomenon and psychological outcomes among family medicine residents: a cross-sectional study in CroatiaTomičević Sunčana Vlah0Lang Valerija Bralić1Health Centre Zagreb – East, Zagreb, CroatiaPrivate Family Physician Office, Zagreb, CroatiaThe aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of the impostor phenomenon among family medicine residents (FMRs) and its connection with sociodemographic factors and clinically relevant symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. During July 2023, 158 first-year FMRs were invited to fill out an anonymous online questionnaire containing sociodemographic data, history of psychiatric disorders, Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), and the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Seventynine participants responded (50 % response rate) and 59 reported some level of impostor feelings. Clinically relevant symptoms of depression were reported by 17, anxiety by 23, and stress by 20 participants. All 59 participants whose responses indicated impostor feelings above normal also had higher scores for depression, anxiety, and stress (p<0.001 in Mann-Whitney U test). Despite a small sample with uneven gender distribution and self-reported scales, our study found a significant association between the impostor phenomenon and negative mental outcomes. We believe that the impostor phenomenon among FMRs can be addressed effectively with interventions like peer support, mentoring, and practicing self-compassion if started early during medical study and specialisation.https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2025-76-3934anxietydepressionfraudmental healthstressanksioznostdepresijamentalno zdravljestresvaralica |
| spellingShingle | Tomičević Sunčana Vlah Lang Valerija Bralić Impostor phenomenon and psychological outcomes among family medicine residents: a cross-sectional study in Croatia Arhiv za Higijenu Rada i Toksikologiju anxiety depression fraud mental health stress anksioznost depresija mentalno zdravlje stres varalica |
| title | Impostor phenomenon and psychological outcomes among family medicine residents: a cross-sectional study in Croatia |
| title_full | Impostor phenomenon and psychological outcomes among family medicine residents: a cross-sectional study in Croatia |
| title_fullStr | Impostor phenomenon and psychological outcomes among family medicine residents: a cross-sectional study in Croatia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impostor phenomenon and psychological outcomes among family medicine residents: a cross-sectional study in Croatia |
| title_short | Impostor phenomenon and psychological outcomes among family medicine residents: a cross-sectional study in Croatia |
| title_sort | impostor phenomenon and psychological outcomes among family medicine residents a cross sectional study in croatia |
| topic | anxiety depression fraud mental health stress anksioznost depresija mentalno zdravlje stres varalica |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2025-76-3934 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tomicevicsuncanavlah impostorphenomenonandpsychologicaloutcomesamongfamilymedicineresidentsacrosssectionalstudyincroatia AT langvalerijabralic impostorphenomenonandpsychologicaloutcomesamongfamilymedicineresidentsacrosssectionalstudyincroatia |