Is the “impostor syndrome” affecting you and limiting your achievements?

The impostor syndrome (IS) is defined as “the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.” The more correct term is the “impostor phenomenon” characterized by “internal feeling of intellectual phoniness” (1). It is noteworthy that the IS does NOT include any of the following: i) acting as an impostor with intent to deceive; ii) pretending to be confident until actually becoming confident; iii) feelings of self doubt common with new activities; and iv) mental illness (2). In contrast, people with the IS truly have the knowledge, skill, and competence to perform a task. However, instead of acknowledging their true abilities, they trivialize their accomplishments and attribute their success to good luck, politeness, or perhaps much effort.

The impostor syndrome affects a wide variety of persons, including those in business, sports, the arts, etc., with ~70% of us affected to some extent at some time (3). However, that 70% prevalence in the general population apparently reflects transient impostor syndrome, whereas true impostor syndrome, i.e., that persists when individuals have clear evidence of success, occurs in ~20 to 50% of medical students and physicians, as recently discussed (4). The extent to which people are affected varies widely, although if severe, it can adversely affect mental well-being, and prevent persons from reaching their true potential (5).

Dr./D^r John Kastelic

Dr./D^r Tim Ogilvie

How common is the IS in veterinarians? A recent international study was conducted by researchers from 3 veterinary schools in the USA. From May to October 2019, 941 practicing veterinarians participated in an anonymous survey, delivered on social media, with 20 questions to assess the IS. Of those responding, just over half (520) were from the USA, with 237 from the UK, 59 from New Zealand, and lesser numbers from other countries. Overall, 631 of 941 participants (two-thirds) met or exceeded the clinical cut-off score for IS, with practitioners living in either New Zealand or the UK, being female, or having been in practice < 5 y, more likely to be affected. In the Discussion, it was noted that only 9.3% of study respondents were male, the average age at graduation is younger in New Zealand and the UK compared to the USA, and that younger people were more likely to be affected.

How can the IS be managed? The following is a summary of 5 proven strategies (5).

1. Slow, deep breaths to promote parasympathetic tone and suppress sympathetic tone.

2. Acknowledge your feelings and emotions, either verbally or in writing.

3. Ask evidence-based questions to truthfully assess your skills and abilities.

4. Seek evidence-based feedback from others to gain an external perspective.

5. Challenge yourself “to try and not be afraid to fail, to learn, to grow.”

Another recent article (2) on IS also noted the importance of acknowledging that no one (not even you!), will be perfect and so you have to re-calibrate your personal expectations to a more achievable level or goal. It is important for veterinarians to be aware of this common condition and of ways to manage it.