Role of imposter syndrome on the relationship between perfectionism and burnout syndrome among preclinical medical students at a University Hospital

Abstract

Background: Imposter syndrome (IS) represents internal fear and anxiety of being exposed as a fraud that actual abilities are not talented, it can lead to frustrations, stress, and burnout. Medical students have a high achievement expectation and high standard of perfectionism trait, this trait may take an important role to burnout syndrome. Transitioning and adjustment to medical school lead to stress and burnout in preclinical medical students. Moreover, medical students with IS are more at risk of burnout. There has been no investigation on this association, especially imposter syndrome as a mediator.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between perfectionism and burnout syndrome, and to examine the mediating effects of IS on the relationship between perfectionism and burnout syndrome in preclinical medical students.

Methods: We collected data from 185 preclinical medical students, including demographic data, and Clance Imposter Phenomenon scale (CIPS), revised almost perfect scale (RAPS), and Copenhagen Burnout Inventorystudent survey (CBI-SS) scores. The data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation and structural equation modeling (SEM).

Results: A positive relationship between perfectionism and burnout syndrome was observed (all components P < 0.01). It was also found that IS partially mediated the relationship between perfectionism and burnout syndrome ( β = 0.246, P < 0.01), and R2 was 0.382 to 0.397.

Conclusion: Preclinical medical students with perfectionism tend to suffer from burnout syndrome. Perfectionism and imposter syndrome can predict the occurrence of burnout syndrome by about 38.2% - 39.7% probability.