Experiencing Impostor Phenomenon? You’re Not Alone: Impostor Phenomenon, General Self-efficacy, and Burnout Among STEM Professionals in the U.S.

Abstract

Through a holistic lens of the social cognitive theory of well-being (SCWB), this study aims to investigate how impostor phenomenon, general self-efficacy, and burnout are experienced among a diverse sample of working STEM professionals. These psychological constructs are internal experiences and, although not overt, can impact overall functioning and well-being. STEM professionals often find themselves in hierarchical and highly competitive environments in which they may feel their well-being compromised. The competitive nature of STEM fields may be a “breeding ground” for the development of the impostor phenomenon (IP). This study investigates STEM professionals’ well-being through the experience of burnout. This study will be the first of its kind to investigate how IP, general self-efficacy, and burnout are experienced among STEM professionals in various occupational ranks (corporate ladder). This study utilized a multiple group pathway analysis to test whether general self-efficacy mediates the relationship between IP and the three dimensions of burnout (emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and personal accomplishment) among five different groups on the corporate ladder (entry, first-level management, middle-level non-management, middle-level management, and upper-level management). Further analyses were employed to explore the dimensionality of the impostor phenomenon (fake, luck, discount) and how this related to the overall model.