Impostor Phenomenon in Dental Students

Abstract

Abstract Impostor phenomenon (IP) is the individual experience of extreme self-doubt in which a person attributes successes and accomplishments to external factors rather than his or her own talent, capabilities, or effort (Clance & Imes, 1978). For students, IP can cause significant and persistent interference in academic and professional experience (Clance, 1985b; Cromwell, Brown, Sanchez-Huceles, & Adair, 1990; Henning, Ey, & Shaw, 1998; Li, Hughes, & Thu, 2014; McGregor, Gee, & Posey, 2008; Oriel, Plane, & Mundt, 2004; Thompson, Davis, & Davidson, 1998). To date, there is limited research on IP in the dental student population, with no known research specifically on the extent to which dental students suffer from impostor feelings. Using the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (Clance, 1985a), this study measured the level of reported impostor feelings in a sample of dental students at a dental school located at a small private university in the Midwestern United States. Relationships between gender, class year, race or ethnic identity, first-generation (in dentistry) status, and reported levels of IP were explored. In this study, a majority (58.3%) of the dental students in the sample exhibited levels of IP above the clinical threshold, demonstrating the significant impact of impostor feelings on their academic, professional, and personal lives. Statistically significant differences in CIPS scores were found when evaluating differences between race or ethnic groups (those identifying as Hispanic, Latino, or Latina versus those not identifying that way) and when comparing scores for URM and non-URM students. The study fills a gap in the existing body of knowledge regarding the prevalence of IP in the dental student population. For researchers, educators, and administrators in dental education, this study establishes a benchmark for measuring the incidence of IP, paving the way for a more comprehensive understanding of how to effectively and holistically educate students in dentistry.