Impostor syndrome more common than thought: Study

Impostor syndrome - a collection of feelings in which individuals doubt their own accomplishments, even if they are competent enough -- is more common than previously thought, according to a study which suggests that the best way to tackle the phenomenon is to reach out to family and friends outside one's social group.

The study, published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior, revealed that 20 percent of the college students who participated in the study suffered from "very strong feelings of impostorism." The researchers from Brigham Young University (BYU) in the US conducted interviews with students in an elite academic programme to understand the various coping mechanisms students used to escape impostorism.

They found that one particular method stood out above the rest - seeking social support from those outside their academic programme. According to the researchers, the students felt worse more often than they felt better if they "reached in" to other students within their major. However, they added that if a student "reached out" to family, friends outside their major, or even to professors, their feeling of impostorism was reduced.

"Those outside the social group seem to be able to help students see the big picture, and recalibrate their reference groups," said Jeff Bednar, a BYU professor and co-author on the study. Bednar added that students are able to understand themselves more holistically, rather than being focused on their inabilities in any one area, once they reach outside their social groups for support.

The study also found some negative ways in which students coped with impostorism. Some students, the study noted, tried to get their mind off schoolwork through escapes like video games. However, they ended up spending more time gaming than studying. The researchers also noted that some students who tried to hide their exact feelings around their classmates, pretending to be confident and excited about their performance, also questioned deep down if they actually belonged.

The research team also surveyed 213 students to confirm the findings of their interview study about seeking social support. In this follow up study, they found that students reaching out to individuals outside the major was more effective than reaching in to individuals within the major. The study also revealed that perceptions of impostorism lack a significant relationship with performance. Individuals who suffer with the impostor syndrome, the study noted, can still do their jobs well but they just don't believe in themselves. Social-related factors impact impostorism more than an individual's actual competence, the researchers said.