Correlation analysis of imposter phenomenon and anxiety among residents in standardized training

doi:10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20240401-00339

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To understand the relationship between imposter phenomenon and anxiety among residents in standardized training. Methods The study used a questionnaire survey method. From November 2023 to May 2024, 381 residents participating in the residency training program at three training bases in Hunan and Guangdong provinces were surveyed using the Impostor Phenomenon Scale and Anxiety Scale. The data were processed by t test, ANOVA and Spearman correlation analysis. Multivariate linear regression analysis explores the impact of the self-doubt dimension, passive disguise dimension, and external attribution dimension of self-ability negativity on anxiety. Results A total of 338 resident trainees participated in this study. The scores of imposter phenomenon and anxiety were 75.0 (31.0); (47.9±10.0), respectively. The score of imposter phenomenon was positively correlated with the score of anxiety (ρ=0.44, P<0.001). Anxiety scores were positively correlated with self-doubt dimension, passive camouflage dimension and external attribution dimension (ρ=0.37, ρ=0.34, ρ=0.44, all P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that passive camouflage dimension (β=-0.56,P=0.034) and external attribution dimension (β=1.02,P＜0.001) had an impact on anxiety. Conclusions There is a positive correlation between imposter phenomenon and anxiety of residential training students. It is suggested that residential training managers should pay attention to process management, optimize the whole-process tutor management mechanism and communication feedback mechanism, so as to reduce the imposter phenomenon of residential training students and reduce their anxiety level.

Key words: Anxiety, Standardized residency training, Trainee, Imposter phenomenon, Correlation

CLC Number:

Wang Jieyan, Jiang Hongyan, Zhu Zedong, Wumier Wusimanjiang, Huang Lanxiang, Liu Chao, Peng Juan. Correlation analysis of imposter phenomenon and anxiety among residents in standardized training[J]. Chinese Journal of Medical Education, 2025, 45(4): 304-309.

References

[1] Clance PR, Imes SA. The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women:dynamics and therapeutic intervention[J]. Psychotherapy Theory,1978,15(3):241-247. DOI:10.1037/h0086006.
[2] Narayanamoorthy S, McLaren R, Pendam R, et al. Are women residents of surgical specialties at a higher risk of developing imposter syndrome?[J]. Am J Surg, 2024,227:48-51. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2023.09.025.
[3] Cokley K, McClain S, Enciso A,et al.An examination of the impact of minority status stress and impostor feelings on the mental health of diverse ethnic minority college students[J]. J Multicult Couns and Dev,2013,41(2):82-95.DOI: 10.1002/j.2161-1912.2013.00029.x.
[4] Tan JH, Eh KX, Ling ZJ. Prevalence of impostor phenomenon and burnout in a Singapore health system[J]. Singapore Med J, 2023,14(4):1-5.DOI: 10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-006.
[5] 罗苏梅. 国外关于自我能力否定倾向的研究综述[J]. 考试周刊,2007(3):119-120.
[6] Chodoff A, Conyers L, Wright S, et al. “I never should have been a doctor”: a qualitative study of imposter phenomenon among internal medicine residents[J]. BMC Med Educ, 2023,23(1):1-8. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03982-8.
[7] Deek AJ, Deek RA, Clegg DJ, et al. To what extent do oral and maxillofacial surgery residents suffer from imposter syndrome?[J]. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol,2024,138(1):21-27.DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2024.02.02.
[8] Gottlieb M, Chung A, Battaglioli N, et al. Impostor syndrome among physicians and physicians in training: a scoping review[J]. Med Educ, 2020,54(2):116-124. DOI: 10.1111/medu.13956.
[9] 于潇, 毛旭, 马艳梅. 临床护士自我能力否定倾向与职业倦怠的相关性研究[J]. 军事护理,2023,40(9):18-21. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.2097-1826.2023.09.005.
[10] 夏雨, 杨莎, 安晓, 等. 本科护生自我能力否定倾向现状及影响因素分析[J]. 护理学杂志,2023,38(20):76-79. DOI: 10.3870/j.issn.1001-4152.2023.20.076.
[11] 罗苏梅. 自我能力否定倾向量表在我国大学生群体中的适用性研究[J]. 考试周刊,2009(34):444-445.
[12] 倪平,陈京立,刘娜. 护理研究中量性研究的样本量估计[J]. 中华护理杂志, 2010, 45 (4): 378-380. DOI: 10.3761/j.issn.0254-1769.2010.04.037.
[13] Clance PR.Imposter phenomenon when success makes you feel like a fake[M]. Toronto:Bantam Books,1985:20-22.
[14] 蒋露苗, 徐玉林, 刘晓琴, 等. Clance自我能力否定倾向量表的汉化及在护士群体中的信效度检验[J]. 护理研究,2022,36(14):2486-2490. DOI: 10.12102/j.issn.1009-6493.2022.14.008.
[15] 张作记.行为医学量表手册[M]. 北京:中华医学电子音像出版社,2005:213-214.
[16] LaDonna KA,Ginsburg S,Watling C.“Rising to the level of your incompetence”: what physicians′ self-assessment of their performance reveals about the imposter syndrome in medicine[J]. Acad Med,2018,93(5):763-768. DOI:10.1097/ACM.0000000000002046.
[17] Baumann N, Faulk C, Vanderlan J, et al. Small-group discussion sessions on imposter syndrome[J]. MedEdPORTAL, 2020,16:11004. DOI: 10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11004.
[18] 董亚莉, 赵婷, 顾晓芬. 某医学院校临床医学硕士专业学位研究生焦虑和抑郁水平现况及影响因素研究[J]. 中华医学教育杂志,2020,40(8):586-589. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115259-20190819-00667.
[19] 陈锴, 段昌柱, 董国利, 等. 医科院校硕士研究生心理健康状况及影响因素分析[J]. 中华医学教育探索杂志,2022,21(3):378-384.DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn116021-20210509-00807.
[20] Oriel K, Plane MB, Mundt M. Family medicine residents and the impostor phenomenon[J]. Fam Med, 2004,36(4):248-252.
[21] 黄悦, 陈乔珠, 郑婕, 等. 妇幼医院规范化培训住院医师抑郁、焦虑及其影响因素研究[J]. 现代医院,2022,22(8):1288-1291,1294. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-332X.2022.08.042.
[22] 陈泓桦, 杨钰立, 李毅, 等. 大学生完美主义与情感平衡:心理弹性和反刍思维的链式中介作用[J]. 中国健康心理学杂志,2022,30(2):247-252. DOI: 10.13342/j.cnki.cjhp.2022.02.018.
[23] 李芳雅, 葛玲, 葛丽君, 等. 团体心理训练对高强迫倾向大学生完美主义和自尊水平的影响[J]. 教育理论与实践,2022,42(33):44-47.
[24] 罗苏梅. 自我能力否定倾向与归因方式的关系研究[J]. 嘉应学院学报,2009,27(5):89-92. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-642X.2009.05.018.
[25] 陈辉, 李小飒, 王艺, 等. 规范化培训住院医师倦怠焦虑抑郁发生率meta分析[J]. 青岛大学学报(医学版),2023,59(4):601-606. DOI: 10.11712/jms.2096-5532.2023.59.112.
[26] Liu RQ, Davidson J, Van Hooren TA, et al. Impostorism and anxiety contribute to burnout among resident physicians[J]. Med Teach, 2022,44(7):758-764. DOI: 10.1080/0142159X.2022.2028751.
[27] 白美玲, 韩敏, 董明纲, 等. 河北省某高校临床医学本科生焦虑抑郁现状调查及其影响因素分析[J]. 河北北方学院学报(自然科学版),2023,39(12):19-22,25. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-1492.2023.12.006.