Imposter Syndrome in Medical Students and Its Relation With Stress

The goal of this observational study is to examine the relationship between Imposter Syndrome and stress in undergraduate medical students at Rawalpindi Medical University, with particular attention to variables such as gender, academic year, and academic performance.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Is there a positive correlation between Imposter Syndrome and stress?

Are gender and year of study associated with differences in stress and Imposter Syndrome levels?

Participants will:

Complete an online questionnaire including demographic questions

Fill out the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) to assess Imposter Syndrome

Complete the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to measure stress levels

Completed

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Key information

Conditions

Imposter Syndrome Medical Students

Age range

18 year–29 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Rawalpindi Medical University

Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Undergraduate MBBS students enrolled at Rawalpindi Medical University
Students from any year of study (1st to final year)
Willingness to participate, demonstrated by providing informed consent
Ability to complete the online questionnaire independently

Exclusion criteria

Postgraduate medical students or students from other disciplines (e.g., nursing, dentistry)
Participants with known psychiatric diagnoses (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders) that could confound stress or Imposter Syndrome assessments
Incomplete or partially filled questionnaires
Students who did not consent to participate in the study

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Level of Imposter Syndrome among undergraduate medical students

Time frame: May - August 2024

The degree of Imposter Syndrome will be measured using the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS). Participants will receive a total score based on their responses, which will be categorized as few characteristics, moderate, frequent, or intense. The outcome will help identify the prevalence and severity of Imposter Syndrome in the study population and will be analyzed in relation to stress, gender, and academic year.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Rawalpindi Medical College

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Imposter Syndrome In Medical Students And Its Relationship With Stress

Important dates

Study start: 2024
Primary completion: 2024
Study completion: 2024
First posted: Jun 13, 2025
Registry last updated: Jun 13, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed