Imposter Syndrome and its Associated Factors in Medical Students in Six Peruvian Faculties

Vilchez-Cornejo J.; Romani L.; Chávez-Bustamante S.G.; Copaja-Corzo C.; Sánchez-Vicente J.C.; Viera-Morón R.D.; Ocampo-Portocarrero B. · Revista Colombiana de Psiquiatria (2023) · DOI: 10.1016/j.rcp.2021.04.011

Resumen

Objective: To determine the factors associated with impostor syndrome in medical students from six regions of Peru. Material and methods: A multicentre, cross-sectional study was conduced on students from first to the sixth year in six Peruvian regions. Sociodemographic, academic, and psychological characteristics were included through the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale. Generalised linear models were performed using crude and adjusted estimated prevalence ratios. Results: Of 2,231 medical students, 54.3% were female and 30.6% had the impostor phenomenon. An association was found between the PI and those who suffered from depression (aPR=1.51; 95%CI, 1.27-1.79), anxiety (aPR = 2.25; 95%CI, 1.75-2.90), stress (aPR = 1.37; 95%CI, 1.19-1.57), and being female (aPR = 1.12; 95%CI, 1.01-1.26). Conclusions: Three out of 10 medical students suffer from PI; having some level of depression, anxiety, stress, being a woman, and/or attending the fourth academic year were predisposing factors for their development.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional San Luis Gonzaga; Universidad de San Martín de Porres; Universidad Privada de Tacna; Universidad Continental; Universidad Nacional de Ucayali; Universidad Nacional del Santa