A Longitudinal Assessment of Professional Identity, Wellness, Imposter Phenomenon, and Calling to Medicine Among Medical Students

Houseknecht, Valerie E.; Roman, Brenda; Stolfi, Adrienne; Borges, Nicole J.

doi:10.1007/s40670-019-00718-0

Cited by 40 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…15 Recently, a small study found that 54% of entering medical students exhibited scores above the cutoff for imposterism, which significantly increased at the end of the M-3 year and remained unchanged at the end of the M-4 year. 16 Studies in graduate medical education show similar results. A study of Canadian family medicine residents found IP in 41% of women and 24% of men.…”

Section: Reportsmentioning

confidence: 69%

Persistent Impostor Phenomenon Is Associated With Distress in Medical Students

Rosenthal

Schlussel

Yaden

et al. 2021

Fam Med

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Background and Objectives: Medical student distress and mental health needs are critical issues in undergraduate medical education. The imposter phenomenon (IP), defined as inappropriate feelings of inadequacy among high achievers is linked to psychological distress. We investigated the prevalence of IP among first-year medical school students and its association with personality measures that affect interpersonal relationships and well-being. Methods: Two hundred fifty-seven students at a large, urban, northeastern medical school completed the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), Jefferson Scale of Empathy, Self-Compassion Scale, and Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire immediately before beginning their first year of medical school. At the end of their first year, 182 of these students again completed the CIPS. Results: Eighty-seven percent of the entering students reported high or very high degrees of IP. Students with higher IP scores had significantly lower mean scores on self-compassion, sociability self-esteem (P<.0001 for all), and getting along with peers (P=.03). Lower IP scores were related to lower mean scores on neuroticism/anxiety and loneliness (P<.001 for both). Women obtained a higher mean IP score than men. IP scores at the end of the school year increased significantly compared with the beginning of the year (P<.001), both in frequency and intensity of IP. Conclusions: IP was common in matriculating first-year medical students and significantly increased at year’s end. Higher IP scores were significantly associated with lower scores for self-compassion, sociability, self-esteem, and higher scores on neuroticism/anxiety.

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Section: Reportsmentioning

confidence: 69%

Persistent Impostor Phenomenon Is Associated With Distress in Medical Students

Rosenthal

Schlussel

Yaden

et al. 2021

Fam Med

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“…investigated changes in professional identity, wellness, calling to medicine (i.e. a sense of purpose and a desire to contribute to the greater good) and imposter phenomenon in medical students throughout their time at a medical school in the USA . Students were surveyed on these factors at the start of their first three academic years.…”

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confidence: 99%

Professional identity and imposter syndrome

Gallagher

2019

The Clinical Teacher

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The development of professional identity is an important process during student training in the health care professions. Many professionals experience a degree of imposter syndrome, where they feel that they do not have the ability to perform in their role and will eventually be exposed as a fraud. This can reduce confidence and impact on the wellness of the individual, leading to higher levels of stress and burnout. The articles discussed here explore recent research into the impact of imposter syndrome, and explore methods of reducing the effect of imposter syndrome on wellness.Houseknecht et al. investigated changes in professional identity, wellness, calling to medicine (i.e. a sense of purpose and a desire to contribute to the greater good) and imposter phenomenon in medical students throughout their time at a medical school in the USA. 1 Students were surveyed on these factors at the start of their first three academic years. This study found that over time student wellness and feelings of professional identity decreased, and feelings of imposter syndrome increased. The students' sense of a calling to medicine did not change. Houseknecht et al. noted this finding to be concerning because of the association of these characteristics with distress and burnout. The author recommends the integration of wellness initiatives early in the curriculum and continuing these initiatives into the clinical years. The author does not outline specific initiatives but highlights the importance of promoting self-care. Additionally, the initiatives should address imposter syndrome directly. Houseknecht et al. conclude that if professional identity and wellness are promoted early then this can enhance the health of the future workforce.The factors contributing to burnout in nursing students, including professional self-concept (professional identity), were investigated by Wang et al. 2 They surveyed 1083 nursing students from two nursing colleges in China. They found that a poorer professional selfconcept was a significant negative indicator of the nursing students Samuel Rhys Gallagher reads the latest journals 1. Houseknecht V, Roman B, Stolfi A, Borges NJ. A longitudinal assessment of professional identity, wellness, imposter phenomenon, and calling to medicine among medical students. Med Sci Educ 2019. https ://doi.

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“…In the recent years, there has been renewed interest in impostor syndrome and its impact in health care professions. This condition has been described in medical students [6], internal medicine interns [7], family medicine residents [8], internal medicine residents [9], dental, pharmacy, nursing students, and clinical nurse specialists [10][11][12]. There are fewer objective data on the prevalence of IS in practicing physicians.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impostor syndrome in hospitalists- a cross-sectional study

Paladugu

Wasser²,

Donato

2021

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

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Impostor syndrome (IS) is a psychological phenomenon in which highly successful people are plagued with self-doubt. Its prevalence in hospitalists and effects of mentoring programs are unknown. We surveyed 71 hospitalists at one hospital for symptoms of IS using the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS). Mean CIPS score was 53.82 (±17.1). Twenty-four participants (33.8%) had IP scores >60, indicating impostor syndrome. There was no difference in score for men and women (56.70 versus 53.02, p = 0.35). Non-white hospitalists had lower rates of impostor syndrome compared to white hospitalists (25% versus 43%, p = 0.002). Impostors had no difference in years as a hospitalist compared to non-impostors (6.96 versus 6.62 years, p = 0.81). Hospitalists with mentors compared to those without had no difference in rates of impostor syndrome (40% versus 34.1%, p = 0.88). The prevalence of impostor syndrome is similar in hospitalists to other professions. A voluntary mentoring program was not associated with lower prevalence.

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A Longitudinal Assessment of Professional Identity, Wellness, Imposter Phenomenon, and Calling to Medicine Among Medical Students

Cited by 40 publications

References 22 publications

Persistent Impostor Phenomenon Is Associated With Distress in Medical Students

Persistent Impostor Phenomenon Is Associated With Distress in Medical Students

Professional identity and imposter syndrome

Impostor syndrome in hospitalists- a cross-sectional study

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