Imposter Syndrome and (Mal)Adaptive Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies Among PhD Candidates

Abstract

PhD candidates are at particularly high risk of developing imposter thoughts. Imposter syndrome can be supposed to contribute to the high prevalence of mental health problems among PhD candidates, such as stress, burnout, depression, or intense negative emotions. In addition, emotion regulation is also considered an important factor in determining individuals’ well being and adaptation to stressful situations. However, little is known about the strategies used by PhD candidates when they try to regulate negative emotions, especially by those experiencing imposter thoughts. An online questionnaire was distributed to a convenience sample of 241 PhD candidates. Imposter syndrome appeared to be associated with a tendency to use more maladaptive emotion regulation strategies (associated with poorer long-term mental and physical health outcomes) in the work context. A contrario, imposter thoughts did not appear to be associated with a tendency to underuse adaptive strategies (associated with greater long-term health outcomes). Taken together, the results of the present study indicate that a prevalent self-focused belief among PhD candidates, namely the belief to be an imposter, is related to the overuse of emotion regulation strategies that are known to cause poor wellbeing and mental health problems. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

The Benefits of Group Identification for PhD Candidates' Health and Work

“…Research indicates that imposter syndrome is linked to various mental health issues (e.g., stress, burnout, depression, intense negative emotions, low self-esteem, or somatic symptoms; Bravata et al, 2020;Leonhardt et al, 2017;Rohrmann et al, 2016). Therefore, imposter syndrome could be an important contributor to the high prevalence of PhD candidates' mental health problems previously described (e.g., Bonetto et al, 2023).…”

“…More specifically, various health-related issues appear to be particularly prevalent among populations of PhD candidates globally, including tress, anxiety, depression, burnout, emotional difficulties, and suicidal ideation (e.g., Bonetto et al, 2023;Evans et al, 2018;Satinsky et al, 2021). Far from being a stable or improving issue, research indicates that the widespread and severe levels of stress and burnout in this population is on the rise (Levecque et al, 2017;Sorrel et al, 2020).…”