Struggling with Self-Doubt: Impostor Phenomenon and Mental Health among Medical Students at Universitas Sumatera Utara in Medan, Indonesia

Impostor Phenomenon (IP) is a common condition experienced by medical students and professionals who face high academic pressures and competitive environments, and is thought to be associated with other psychological conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Factors, such as gender and academic year, are also suspected to influence the development of IP experienced by individuals. This study aimed to analyze factors associated with IP among students at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara.

This analytical study employed a cross-sectional design. Variables assessed included gender, academic year, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. Several questionnaires were used for data collection, such as CIPS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and RSES questionnaires. Data analysis utilized Chi-square tests to investigate the relationship between each independent variable and Poisson regression tests to evaluate the correlation between all independent variables using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc.).

A total of 347 students participated, revealing that 58.8% of medical students experienced IP, with a greater prevalence among females and the highest prevalence among second-year students. Data analysis revealed a significant association between IP and symptoms of depression (PR = 1.530; 95% CI = 1.229-1.904; P < 0.001), anxiety (PR = 1.317; 95% CI = 1.095-1.583, P = 0.003), and low self-esteem (PR = 1.237; 95% CI = 1.066-1.449; P = 0.008).

This study reinforces that psychological factors, including depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, are strongly associated with the impostor phenomenon (IP) among medical students, while gender and academic year are not. The findings highlight the need for early mental health support to help students manage self-doubt and academic stress.

The study highlights a high prevalence of IP among medical students, with a significant relationship between IP, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem.