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Original Research 
RMJ. 2025; 50(1): 187-190


Behind the mask - Impostor Phenomenon and social anxiety in medical students of Pakistan: A cross-sectional study

Minhal Fatemah, Haneen Bint Amir, Rabeeha Zaheer.


Abstract
Objective: To investigate the prevalence and severity of the impostor phenomenon and social anxiety among medical students and to explore the association between the two.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study surveyed 310 MBBS students at a medical university in Pakistan. The Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) was used to assess impostor traits while the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) assessed social anxiety.
Results: Both impostor phenomenon and social anxiety were found to be prevalent in medical students. Among the participants, 56.8% identified as “impostors”, with a mean CIPS score of 63.76±13.577 while 68.3% exhibited social anxiety traits with a mean SIAS score of 42.39± 13.973). The impostor phenomenon and social anxiety demonstrated a moderate positive correlation (rs = +0.588) and a significant difference in social anxiety levels among low, medium, and high CIPS groups was observed (H (2, N=310) = 77.930, p<0.001). No significant differences in the impostor phenomenon or social anxiety were observed based on gender or age.
Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of impostor phenomenon and social anxiety among medical students, with a notable positive correlation between the two. As these conditions significantly affect mental health and academic performance, integrating mental health support into medical education is crucial.

Key words: Imposter syndrome, social phobia, medical education.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Fatemah M, Amir HB, Zaheer R. Behind the mask - Impostor Phenomenon and social anxiety in medical students of Pakistan: A cross-sectional study. RMJ. 2025; 50(1): 187-190.

Web Style

Fatemah M, Amir HB, Zaheer R. Behind the mask - Impostor Phenomenon and social anxiety in medical students of Pakistan: A cross-sectional study. https://www.rmj.org.pk/?mno=160195 [Access: March 12, 2025].

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Fatemah M, Amir HB, Zaheer R. Behind the mask - Impostor Phenomenon and social anxiety in medical students of Pakistan: A cross-sectional study. RMJ. 2025; 50(1): 187-190.


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Fatemah M, Amir HB, Zaheer R. Behind the mask - Impostor Phenomenon and social anxiety in medical students of Pakistan: A cross-sectional study. RMJ. (2025), [cited March 12, 2025]; 50(1): 187-190.


Harvard Style

Fatemah, M., Amir, . H. B. & Zaheer, . R. (2025) Behind the mask - Impostor Phenomenon and social anxiety in medical students of Pakistan: A cross-sectional study. RMJ, 50 (1), 187-190.


Turabian Style

Fatemah, Minhal, Haneen Bint Amir, and Rabeeha Zaheer. 2025. Behind the mask - Impostor Phenomenon and social anxiety in medical students of Pakistan: A cross-sectional study. Rawal Medical Journal, 50 (1), 187-190.


Chicago Style

Fatemah, Minhal, Haneen Bint Amir, and Rabeeha Zaheer. "Behind the mask - Impostor Phenomenon and social anxiety in medical students of Pakistan: A cross-sectional study." Rawal Medical Journal 50 (2025), 187-190.


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Fatemah, Minhal, Haneen Bint Amir, and Rabeeha Zaheer. "Behind the mask - Impostor Phenomenon and social anxiety in medical students of Pakistan: A cross-sectional study." Rawal Medical Journal 50.1 (2025), 187-190. Print.


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Fatemah, M., Amir, . H. B. & Zaheer, . R. (2025) Behind the mask - Impostor Phenomenon and social anxiety in medical students of Pakistan: A cross-sectional study. Rawal Medical Journal, 50 (1), 187-190.


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