GITNUXREPORT 2026

Imposter Syndrome Statistics

Imposter syndrome widely affects diverse groups but proven strategies can reduce its impact.

Min-ji Park

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Women report 65% imposter syndrome vs 45% men in Fortune 500, 2022 Catalyst study

Statistic 2

Black women experience imposter syndrome at 81% rate vs 67% white women, per 2021 McKinsey Women in Workplace report on 10,000

Statistic 3

In STEM, 72% female vs 48% male undergrads feel imposters, NSF 2020 longitudinal study of 5,000

Statistic 4

Latina professionals report 69% vs 58% non-Latina white, 2022 SHRM diversity survey of 3,000

Statistic 5

Asian women in tech have 76% imposter rate vs 55% Asian men, Blind 2023 poll of 8,000

Statistic 6

Transgender employees experience 82% vs 60% cisgender women, 2022 Human Rights Campaign survey of 4,500

Statistic 7

In academia, female professors report 64% vs 41% male, 2021 study of 2,000 faculty

Statistic 8

Corporate boards: 70% women vs 50% men feel unqualified, Deloitte 2023 board survey of 1,000

Statistic 9

Non-binary individuals show 79% imposter syndrome vs 62% binary women, Stonewall 2022 UK survey of 5,000 LGBTQ+

Statistic 10

In law firms, female partners 68% vs 44% male partners, ABA 2021 study of 2,500 lawyers

Statistic 11

Cultural tightness in Asia amplifies gender gap to 25 points (women 71%, men 46%), cross-cultural study of 3,000

Statistic 12

Middle Eastern women report 75% vs 52% men in business, World Economic Forum 2022 data from 1,500

Statistic 13

Indigenous women in Australia have 73% rate vs 49% men, 2023 indigenous affairs survey of 1,200

Statistic 14

In Europe, gender gap narrows to 12% (women 63%, men 51%), EU 2021 gender equality report on 10,000

Statistic 15

Female entrepreneurs 69% vs 47% male, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2022 of 50,000

Statistic 16

In healthcare leadership, 66% women vs 43% men feel imposters, WHO 2023 study of 2,000

Statistic 17

South Asian women in UK report 74% vs 53% men, 2022 British Psychological Society survey of 1,800

Statistic 18

Elderly women (65+) show 59% vs 38% men, AARP 2023 aging workforce study of 3,000

Statistic 19

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy reduces imposter scores by 34% in 12-week program for 200 participants

Statistic 20

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction lowers imposter feelings by 28% post-8 weeks, RCT of 150 professionals

Statistic 21

Mentoring programs decrease imposter syndrome by 41% in mentees over 6 months, study of 500 women

Statistic 22

Affirmation interventions reduce symptoms by 22% immediately, meta-analysis of 12 studies with 1,000+

Statistic 23

Group therapy yields 37% improvement in Clance scale for 12 sessions, controlled trial of 120 students

Statistic 24

Self-compassion training cuts imposter by 30% in 4 weeks, RCT of 250 undergrads

Statistic 25

Career coaching reduces imposter by 25% and boosts promotions by 18%, 2022 study of 400 executives

Statistic 26

Journaling reframing technique lowers scores by 19% weekly over 8 weeks, diary study of 300

Statistic 27

Psychoeducation workshops decrease prevalence by 27% post-session, pre-post of 600 employees

Statistic 28

Attribution retraining improves self-efficacy by 32%, reducing imposter by 24%, experiment of 180

Statistic 29

Peer support groups yield 35% symptom reduction over 10 weeks, qualitative-quant of 250

Statistic 30

ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy) drops imposter by 29%, 16-week trial of 200

Statistic 31

Success visualization daily reduces feelings by 21% in 30 days, app-based study of 1,000

Statistic 32

Organizational interventions like recognition programs cut imposter by 26% firm-wide, case study of 2,500

Statistic 33

EMDR for trauma-linked imposter reduces scores by 42%, clinical trial of 100

Statistic 34

Digital CBT apps lower imposter by 23% in 8 weeks, RCT of 500 users

Statistic 35

Leadership training integrates imposter module, boosting confidence 31%, 2023 study of 1,200 managers

Statistic 36

Bibliotherapy with imposter books reduces symptoms by 18%, controlled reading trial of 400

Statistic 37

Hypnotherapy sessions decrease imposter by 36% after 6, pilot of 80 professionals

Statistic 38

Resilience training programs yield 24% drop in imposter scores, military study of 600

Statistic 39

Approximately 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at least once in their lives

Statistic 40

In a survey of 3,000 high-achieving professionals, 75% reported feeling like imposters in their roles

Statistic 41

82% of people have experienced imposter syndrome according to a 2021 KPMG study of 1,573 professionals

Statistic 42

Among medical students, 56% reported imposter phenomenon in a study of 337 participants

Statistic 43

62% of UK professionals experienced imposter syndrome in 2020, per a survey of over 4,000 workers

Statistic 44

In tech industry, 58% of employees report imposter feelings weekly, from Blind survey of 10,000+

Statistic 45

71% of first-year college students feel like imposters, per 2019 study of 1,200 undergraduates

Statistic 46

65% of entrepreneurs admit to imposter syndrome, according to Foundr survey of 500 founders

Statistic 47

Among nurses, 67% experience imposter syndrome, from a meta-analysis of 14 studies involving 3,754 participants

Statistic 48

55% of executives report imposter feelings, per 2022 ExecuNet survey of 500 C-suite leaders

Statistic 49

78% of women in leadership roles feel like imposters, from 2021 LeanIn.org and SurveyMonkey poll of 6,095 adults

Statistic 50

49% of men vs 75% of women report imposter syndrome in STEM fields, per 2020 study of 1,000 scientists

Statistic 51

African American professionals experience imposter syndrome at 2.5 times the rate of white counterparts, from 2018 study of 500 employees

Statistic 52

LGBTQ+ individuals report 68% prevalence compared to 52% heterosexuals, per 2022 Gallup poll of 5,000 workers

Statistic 53

Millennials show 64% imposter syndrome rate vs 41% Baby Boomers, from 2021 Deloitte survey of 10,000 global workers

Statistic 54

First-generation college students have 72% imposter feelings vs 48% continuing-generation, per 2019 study of 2,500 students

Statistic 55

Rural residents report 59% imposter syndrome vs 51% urban, from 2020 rural health study of 1,800 adults

Statistic 56

Disabled professionals experience 73% rate compared to 54% non-disabled, per 2023 Scope survey of 2,000 UK workers

Statistic 57

Introverts report 66% imposter syndrome vs 53% extroverts, from 2021 Myers-Briggs study of 4,000 participants

Statistic 58

Single parents in workforce have 69% prevalence vs 50% non-parents, per 2022 Working Families survey of 3,000

Statistic 59

Immigrants report 74% imposter feelings vs 55% native-born, from 2020 migration study of 1,500 professionals

Statistic 60

Low-income background workers show 67% rate vs 44% high-income, per 2021 economic mobility survey of 6,000

Statistic 61

Veterans transitioning to civilian jobs have 61% imposter syndrome, from VA study of 2,000 vets

Statistic 62

Neurodiverse individuals (ADHD/autism) report 76% vs 49% neurotypical, per 2023 ADDitude survey of 5,000

Statistic 63

Caregivers experience 63% imposter feelings vs 47% non-caregivers, from AARP 2022 study of 4,500 adults

Statistic 64

Remote workers post-COVID report 60% vs 52% office-based, per 2021 Owl Labs survey of 1,200

Statistic 65

Freelancers have 70% imposter syndrome rate vs 56% full-time employees, from Upwork 2023 study of 2,500

Statistic 66

Academics in humanities report 68% vs 55% in sciences, per 2020 Times Higher Ed survey of 3,000 faculty

Statistic 67

Sales professionals experience 57% imposter feelings weekly, from Sales Management Association 2022 poll of 1,000

Statistic 68

Career advancement delayed by 18-24 months for those with high imposter scores, per 10-year longitudinal study of 1,200 managers

Statistic 69

Salary negotiation avoidance in 67% of imposter sufferers vs 34% non-sufferers, from 2022 Glassdoor survey of 5,000

Statistic 70

Promotion rates 22% lower for high imposter employees, cohort study of 2,500 corporate workers over 5 years

Statistic 71

Job performance self-rated 1.7 points lower on 7-scale despite objective parity, per 360-review of 800

Statistic 72

Networking participation reduced by 43% in imposter-prone individuals, from activity log study of 600 professionals

Statistic 73

Turnover intention 2.4x higher among imposter syndrome sufferers, 2021 SHRM survey of 4,000 HR pros

Statistic 74

Leadership emergence 31% less likely in groups with high imposter members, experimental study of 50 teams

Statistic 75

Innovation contributions down 25% due to fear of idea rejection, per R&D team study of 1,000 engineers

Statistic 76

Mentorship seeking delayed by 15 months on average, from career trajectory analysis of 900 women

Statistic 77

Feedback avoidance in 54% of cases linked to imposter feelings, 360-degree feedback study of 1,500

Statistic 78

Public speaking anxiety leads to 37% fewer presentations, conference data from 700 academics

Statistic 79

Risk-taking in decisions reduced by 40%, simulated business scenarios with 400 executives

Statistic 80

Team collaboration scores 19% lower self-perceived, peer review of 2,000 project teams

Statistic 81

Entrepreneurship startup rates 28% lower among high imposter scorers, panel data from 3,500

Statistic 82

Client trust building takes 2.1x longer, sales cycle analysis of 1,200 deals

Statistic 83

Training investment ROI 15% lower due to self-doubt, corporate learning study of 5,000

Statistic 84

Diversity initiative participation down 26% from imposter barriers, DEI survey of 2,500

Statistic 85

Remote leadership effectiveness rated 23% lower by self, 2023 study of 1,800 managers

Statistic 86

Anxiety is correlated with imposter syndrome at r=0.65 in a meta-analysis of 45 studies with 12,000 participants

Statistic 87

Imposter syndrome predicts depression symptoms with β=0.42 in longitudinal study of 500 adults over 2 years

Statistic 88

45% of those with imposter syndrome have generalized anxiety disorder comorbidity, per 2019 clinical study of 800 patients

Statistic 89

Self-esteem inversely correlates with imposter feelings at r=-0.72 across 20 studies meta-analysis

Statistic 90

Perfectionism mediates 58% of imposter syndrome's effect on mental health, from path analysis of 1,200 undergraduates

Statistic 91

Imposter phenomenon linked to 3.2x higher burnout risk in healthcare workers, per 2021 study of 2,500 nurses

Statistic 92

Sleep disturbances reported by 52% of high imposter scorers vs 28% low, from actigraphy study of 300

Statistic 93

Imposter syndrome associated with 35% higher cortisol levels in stress tests of 150 participants

Statistic 94

Emotional exhaustion score increases by 1.8 SD in imposter sufferers, per MBI analysis of 1,000 workers

Statistic 95

61% of imposter syndrome cases show suicidal ideation history vs 22% controls, from 2022 psychiatric survey of 900

Statistic 96

Negative self-talk frequency 4.1x higher in imposter group, per daily diary study of 400 over 14 days

Statistic 97

Imposter feelings reduce life satisfaction by 22 points on 100-scale, longitudinal data from 2,000 adults

Statistic 98

Shame proneness correlates at r=0.58 with Clance Imposter Scale in 1,500 sample

Statistic 99

Body dysmorphia symptoms 2.7x more prevalent in high imposter women, per 2020 study of 600

Statistic 100

Imposter syndrome exacerbates PTSD symptoms by 40% in veterans, from VA cohort of 800

Statistic 101

Mindfulness deficit mediates 47% of anxiety-imposter link, per SEM model of 1,100 students

Statistic 102

Imposter scorers show 28% lower emotional intelligence scores, from MSCEIT test of 700 professionals

Statistic 103

Rumination duration increases by 2.3 hours/week in high imposter group, ecological momentary assessment of 250

Statistic 104

Imposter syndrome linked to 51% higher rates of eating disorders in young adults, per 2021 meta-analysis of 15 studies

Statistic 105

High imposter feelings predict 33% variance in loneliness scores, cross-sectional study of 3,000

Statistic 106

Imposter syndrome associated with 29% increased procrastination tendency, from 2020 study of 900 students

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Despite the widespread belief that you're the only one feeling this way, the startling truth revealed by countless studies is that imposter syndrome—that persistent feeling of being a fraud—is far from a personal failing, but a nearly universal experience shared by as many as 70% of people and intensified across demographics, professions, and life circumstances, with profound impacts on mental health, career trajectory, and well-being.

Key Takeaways

  • Approximately 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at least once in their lives
  • In a survey of 3,000 high-achieving professionals, 75% reported feeling like imposters in their roles
  • 82% of people have experienced imposter syndrome according to a 2021 KPMG study of 1,573 professionals
  • Anxiety is correlated with imposter syndrome at r=0.65 in a meta-analysis of 45 studies with 12,000 participants
  • Imposter syndrome predicts depression symptoms with β=0.42 in longitudinal study of 500 adults over 2 years
  • 45% of those with imposter syndrome have generalized anxiety disorder comorbidity, per 2019 clinical study of 800 patients
  • Career advancement delayed by 18-24 months for those with high imposter scores, per 10-year longitudinal study of 1,200 managers
  • Salary negotiation avoidance in 67% of imposter sufferers vs 34% non-sufferers, from 2022 Glassdoor survey of 5,000
  • Promotion rates 22% lower for high imposter employees, cohort study of 2,500 corporate workers over 5 years
  • Women report 65% imposter syndrome vs 45% men in Fortune 500, 2022 Catalyst study
  • Black women experience imposter syndrome at 81% rate vs 67% white women, per 2021 McKinsey Women in Workplace report on 10,000
  • In STEM, 72% female vs 48% male undergrads feel imposters, NSF 2020 longitudinal study of 5,000
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy reduces imposter scores by 34% in 12-week program for 200 participants
  • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction lowers imposter feelings by 28% post-8 weeks, RCT of 150 professionals
  • Mentoring programs decrease imposter syndrome by 41% in mentees over 6 months, study of 500 women

Imposter syndrome widely affects diverse groups but proven strategies can reduce its impact.

Gender Differences

  • Women report 65% imposter syndrome vs 45% men in Fortune 500, 2022 Catalyst study
  • Black women experience imposter syndrome at 81% rate vs 67% white women, per 2021 McKinsey Women in Workplace report on 10,000
  • In STEM, 72% female vs 48% male undergrads feel imposters, NSF 2020 longitudinal study of 5,000
  • Latina professionals report 69% vs 58% non-Latina white, 2022 SHRM diversity survey of 3,000
  • Asian women in tech have 76% imposter rate vs 55% Asian men, Blind 2023 poll of 8,000
  • Transgender employees experience 82% vs 60% cisgender women, 2022 Human Rights Campaign survey of 4,500
  • In academia, female professors report 64% vs 41% male, 2021 study of 2,000 faculty
  • Corporate boards: 70% women vs 50% men feel unqualified, Deloitte 2023 board survey of 1,000
  • Non-binary individuals show 79% imposter syndrome vs 62% binary women, Stonewall 2022 UK survey of 5,000 LGBTQ+
  • In law firms, female partners 68% vs 44% male partners, ABA 2021 study of 2,500 lawyers
  • Cultural tightness in Asia amplifies gender gap to 25 points (women 71%, men 46%), cross-cultural study of 3,000
  • Middle Eastern women report 75% vs 52% men in business, World Economic Forum 2022 data from 1,500
  • Indigenous women in Australia have 73% rate vs 49% men, 2023 indigenous affairs survey of 1,200
  • In Europe, gender gap narrows to 12% (women 63%, men 51%), EU 2021 gender equality report on 10,000
  • Female entrepreneurs 69% vs 47% male, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2022 of 50,000
  • In healthcare leadership, 66% women vs 43% men feel imposters, WHO 2023 study of 2,000
  • South Asian women in UK report 74% vs 53% men, 2022 British Psychological Society survey of 1,800
  • Elderly women (65+) show 59% vs 38% men, AARP 2023 aging workforce study of 3,000

Gender Differences Interpretation

These statistics paint a clear and frustrating picture: the higher you climb and the further you are from the default seat of power, the more the system seems to whisper in your ear that you don’t belong there.

Interventions

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy reduces imposter scores by 34% in 12-week program for 200 participants
  • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction lowers imposter feelings by 28% post-8 weeks, RCT of 150 professionals
  • Mentoring programs decrease imposter syndrome by 41% in mentees over 6 months, study of 500 women
  • Affirmation interventions reduce symptoms by 22% immediately, meta-analysis of 12 studies with 1,000+
  • Group therapy yields 37% improvement in Clance scale for 12 sessions, controlled trial of 120 students
  • Self-compassion training cuts imposter by 30% in 4 weeks, RCT of 250 undergrads
  • Career coaching reduces imposter by 25% and boosts promotions by 18%, 2022 study of 400 executives
  • Journaling reframing technique lowers scores by 19% weekly over 8 weeks, diary study of 300
  • Psychoeducation workshops decrease prevalence by 27% post-session, pre-post of 600 employees
  • Attribution retraining improves self-efficacy by 32%, reducing imposter by 24%, experiment of 180
  • Peer support groups yield 35% symptom reduction over 10 weeks, qualitative-quant of 250
  • ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy) drops imposter by 29%, 16-week trial of 200
  • Success visualization daily reduces feelings by 21% in 30 days, app-based study of 1,000
  • Organizational interventions like recognition programs cut imposter by 26% firm-wide, case study of 2,500
  • EMDR for trauma-linked imposter reduces scores by 42%, clinical trial of 100
  • Digital CBT apps lower imposter by 23% in 8 weeks, RCT of 500 users
  • Leadership training integrates imposter module, boosting confidence 31%, 2023 study of 1,200 managers
  • Bibliotherapy with imposter books reduces symptoms by 18%, controlled reading trial of 400
  • Hypnotherapy sessions decrease imposter by 36% after 6, pilot of 80 professionals
  • Resilience training programs yield 24% drop in imposter scores, military study of 600

Interventions Interpretation

The stats reveal that whether it’s high-tech EMDR or the humble journal, the imposter in your head can be evicted with surprising efficiency, if only you'll send the right notice.

Prevalence Rates

  • Approximately 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at least once in their lives
  • In a survey of 3,000 high-achieving professionals, 75% reported feeling like imposters in their roles
  • 82% of people have experienced imposter syndrome according to a 2021 KPMG study of 1,573 professionals
  • Among medical students, 56% reported imposter phenomenon in a study of 337 participants
  • 62% of UK professionals experienced imposter syndrome in 2020, per a survey of over 4,000 workers
  • In tech industry, 58% of employees report imposter feelings weekly, from Blind survey of 10,000+
  • 71% of first-year college students feel like imposters, per 2019 study of 1,200 undergraduates
  • 65% of entrepreneurs admit to imposter syndrome, according to Foundr survey of 500 founders
  • Among nurses, 67% experience imposter syndrome, from a meta-analysis of 14 studies involving 3,754 participants
  • 55% of executives report imposter feelings, per 2022 ExecuNet survey of 500 C-suite leaders
  • 78% of women in leadership roles feel like imposters, from 2021 LeanIn.org and SurveyMonkey poll of 6,095 adults
  • 49% of men vs 75% of women report imposter syndrome in STEM fields, per 2020 study of 1,000 scientists
  • African American professionals experience imposter syndrome at 2.5 times the rate of white counterparts, from 2018 study of 500 employees
  • LGBTQ+ individuals report 68% prevalence compared to 52% heterosexuals, per 2022 Gallup poll of 5,000 workers
  • Millennials show 64% imposter syndrome rate vs 41% Baby Boomers, from 2021 Deloitte survey of 10,000 global workers
  • First-generation college students have 72% imposter feelings vs 48% continuing-generation, per 2019 study of 2,500 students
  • Rural residents report 59% imposter syndrome vs 51% urban, from 2020 rural health study of 1,800 adults
  • Disabled professionals experience 73% rate compared to 54% non-disabled, per 2023 Scope survey of 2,000 UK workers
  • Introverts report 66% imposter syndrome vs 53% extroverts, from 2021 Myers-Briggs study of 4,000 participants
  • Single parents in workforce have 69% prevalence vs 50% non-parents, per 2022 Working Families survey of 3,000
  • Immigrants report 74% imposter feelings vs 55% native-born, from 2020 migration study of 1,500 professionals
  • Low-income background workers show 67% rate vs 44% high-income, per 2021 economic mobility survey of 6,000
  • Veterans transitioning to civilian jobs have 61% imposter syndrome, from VA study of 2,000 vets
  • Neurodiverse individuals (ADHD/autism) report 76% vs 49% neurotypical, per 2023 ADDitude survey of 5,000
  • Caregivers experience 63% imposter feelings vs 47% non-caregivers, from AARP 2022 study of 4,500 adults
  • Remote workers post-COVID report 60% vs 52% office-based, per 2021 Owl Labs survey of 1,200
  • Freelancers have 70% imposter syndrome rate vs 56% full-time employees, from Upwork 2023 study of 2,500
  • Academics in humanities report 68% vs 55% in sciences, per 2020 Times Higher Ed survey of 3,000 faculty
  • Sales professionals experience 57% imposter feelings weekly, from Sales Management Association 2022 poll of 1,000

Prevalence Rates Interpretation

Despite the statistics painting imposter syndrome as a shockingly common human experience, it appears we've collectively mastered the art of feeling uniquely fraudulent together.

Professional Impacts

  • Career advancement delayed by 18-24 months for those with high imposter scores, per 10-year longitudinal study of 1,200 managers
  • Salary negotiation avoidance in 67% of imposter sufferers vs 34% non-sufferers, from 2022 Glassdoor survey of 5,000
  • Promotion rates 22% lower for high imposter employees, cohort study of 2,500 corporate workers over 5 years
  • Job performance self-rated 1.7 points lower on 7-scale despite objective parity, per 360-review of 800
  • Networking participation reduced by 43% in imposter-prone individuals, from activity log study of 600 professionals
  • Turnover intention 2.4x higher among imposter syndrome sufferers, 2021 SHRM survey of 4,000 HR pros
  • Leadership emergence 31% less likely in groups with high imposter members, experimental study of 50 teams
  • Innovation contributions down 25% due to fear of idea rejection, per R&D team study of 1,000 engineers
  • Mentorship seeking delayed by 15 months on average, from career trajectory analysis of 900 women
  • Feedback avoidance in 54% of cases linked to imposter feelings, 360-degree feedback study of 1,500
  • Public speaking anxiety leads to 37% fewer presentations, conference data from 700 academics
  • Risk-taking in decisions reduced by 40%, simulated business scenarios with 400 executives
  • Team collaboration scores 19% lower self-perceived, peer review of 2,000 project teams
  • Entrepreneurship startup rates 28% lower among high imposter scorers, panel data from 3,500
  • Client trust building takes 2.1x longer, sales cycle analysis of 1,200 deals
  • Training investment ROI 15% lower due to self-doubt, corporate learning study of 5,000
  • Diversity initiative participation down 26% from imposter barriers, DEI survey of 2,500
  • Remote leadership effectiveness rated 23% lower by self, 2023 study of 1,800 managers

Professional Impacts Interpretation

Imposter syndrome is a meticulously documented tax on human potential, stealing promotions, silencing voices, shrinking salaries, and stalling careers—all while its sufferers deliver objectively excellent work.

Psychological Impacts

  • Anxiety is correlated with imposter syndrome at r=0.65 in a meta-analysis of 45 studies with 12,000 participants
  • Imposter syndrome predicts depression symptoms with β=0.42 in longitudinal study of 500 adults over 2 years
  • 45% of those with imposter syndrome have generalized anxiety disorder comorbidity, per 2019 clinical study of 800 patients
  • Self-esteem inversely correlates with imposter feelings at r=-0.72 across 20 studies meta-analysis
  • Perfectionism mediates 58% of imposter syndrome's effect on mental health, from path analysis of 1,200 undergraduates
  • Imposter phenomenon linked to 3.2x higher burnout risk in healthcare workers, per 2021 study of 2,500 nurses
  • Sleep disturbances reported by 52% of high imposter scorers vs 28% low, from actigraphy study of 300
  • Imposter syndrome associated with 35% higher cortisol levels in stress tests of 150 participants
  • Emotional exhaustion score increases by 1.8 SD in imposter sufferers, per MBI analysis of 1,000 workers
  • 61% of imposter syndrome cases show suicidal ideation history vs 22% controls, from 2022 psychiatric survey of 900
  • Negative self-talk frequency 4.1x higher in imposter group, per daily diary study of 400 over 14 days
  • Imposter feelings reduce life satisfaction by 22 points on 100-scale, longitudinal data from 2,000 adults
  • Shame proneness correlates at r=0.58 with Clance Imposter Scale in 1,500 sample
  • Body dysmorphia symptoms 2.7x more prevalent in high imposter women, per 2020 study of 600
  • Imposter syndrome exacerbates PTSD symptoms by 40% in veterans, from VA cohort of 800
  • Mindfulness deficit mediates 47% of anxiety-imposter link, per SEM model of 1,100 students
  • Imposter scorers show 28% lower emotional intelligence scores, from MSCEIT test of 700 professionals
  • Rumination duration increases by 2.3 hours/week in high imposter group, ecological momentary assessment of 250
  • Imposter syndrome linked to 51% higher rates of eating disorders in young adults, per 2021 meta-analysis of 15 studies
  • High imposter feelings predict 33% variance in loneliness scores, cross-sectional study of 3,000
  • Imposter syndrome associated with 29% increased procrastination tendency, from 2020 study of 900 students

Psychological Impacts Interpretation

The statistics paint a stark reality: that nagging "imposter" feeling isn't just a quirk, but a relentless saboteur that scientifically rewires your brain for anxiety, depletes your mental health like a leaky battery, and systematically corrodes your life from sleep to self-worth, proving the cruelest voice you'll ever hear is your own.

Sources & References