THE PSYCHOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IMPOSTOR SYNDROME AND LONELINESS
Abstract
This article examines the psychological relationship between impostor syndrome and loneliness. Impostor syndrome is understood as a stable pattern of self-doubt, fear of being exposed as incompetent, and difficulty internalizing achievement despite objective evidence of competence. Loneliness, in turn, reflects a subjective discrepancy between desired and actual interpersonal connection. Based on empirical data from 1,430 respondents, the study found a strong, statistically significant positive correlation between impostor syndrome and loneliness (r = 0.741, p < 0.01). The result suggests that individuals who experience stronger impostor feelings are also more likely to report higher levels of loneliness. The article discusses possible psychological mechanisms underlying this link, including fear of negative evaluation, concealment of perceived inadequacy, reduced help-seeking, perfectionism, and weakened social belonging. The findings contribute to contemporary discussions on mental health, academic/professional adaptation, and socio-emotional well-being, emphasizing the need for psychological support programs that address both self-perception and interpersonal connectedness.
References
1. Alsubheen, S. A., Oliveira, A., Habash, R., Goldstein, R., & Brooks, D. (2021). Systematic review of psychometric properties and cross-cultural adaptation of the University of California and Los Angeles Loneliness Scale in adults. Current Psychology.
2. Bravata, D. M., Watts, S. A., Keefer, A. L., Madhusudhan, D. K., Taylor, K. T., Clark, D. M., Nelson, R. S., Cokley, K. O., & Hagg, H. K. (2020). Prevalence, predictors, and treatment of impostor syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(4), 1252–1275.
3. Chua, S. M., Tan, I. Y. K., Thummachai, M. E., Chew, Q. H., & Sim, K. (2026). Impostor syndrome, associated factors and impact on well-being across medical undergraduates and postgraduate medical professionals: A scoping review. BMJ Open, 15(7), e097858.
4. El-Ashry, A. M., Taha, S. M., Abd Elhay, E. S., Hammad, H. A.-H., Khedr, M. A., & El-Sayed, M. M. (2024). Prevalence of imposter syndrome and its association with depression, stress, and anxiety among nursing students: A multi-center cross-sectional study. BMC Nursing, 23, 862.
5. Feenstra, S., Begeny, C. T., Ryan, M. K., Rink, F. A., Stoker, J. I., & Jordan, J. (2020). Contextualizing the impostor “syndrome”. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 575024.
6. Gullifor, D. P., Gardner, W. L., Noghani, F., Cogliser, C. C., & Karam, E. P. (2023). The impostor phenomenon at work: A systematic evidence-based review, conceptual development, and agenda for future research. Journal of Organizational Behavior.
7. Holt-Lunstad, J. (2024). Social connection as a critical factor for mental and physical health: Evidence, trends, challenges, and future implications. World Psychiatry, 23(3), 312–332.
8. Hutchins, H. M. (2015). Outing the imposter: A study exploring imposter phenomenon among higher education faculty. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, 27(2), 3–12.
9. Jansen, M. P. (2024). Impostor phenomenon short scale (IPSS-3): A novel measure to capture impostor feelings in large-scale and longitudinal surveys. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1358279.
10. Khalil, A. I., Alharbi, R., Al Qtame, H., Al Bena, R., & Khan, M. A. (2024). Investigating the association between resilience and impostor syndrome in undergraduate nursing and medical students: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Medicine and Life, 17(9), 868–879.
11. Neufeld, A., Babenko, O., & Malin, G. (2024). Not all “impostors” are created equal: A dimensional, person-centered, and theory-based analysis of medical students. Medical Teacher, 46(8), 1044–1051.
12. Para, E., Dubreuil, P., Miquelon, P., & Martin-Krumm, C. (2024). Interventions addressing the impostor phenomenon: A scoping review. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1360540.
13. Thomas, M., & Bigatti, S. (2020). Perfectionism, impostor phenomenon, and mental health in medicine: A literature review. International Journal of Medical Education, 11, 201–213.
