Prevalence of imposter syndrome among medical students at Badr University in Cairo: association with burnout syndrome

Abstract Background Imposter Syndrome (IS), also known as the Imposter Phenomenon (IP), is a prevalent experience among many medical students, trainee, and practitioners. This investigation sought to ascertain the prevalence of IS among medical students enrolled at Badr University in Cairo (BUC) and to examine its correlation with burnout and pertinent sociodemographic variables. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was administered to undergraduate medical students at BUC. Participants completed a semi-structured questionnaire encompassing sociodemographic information, the Young Imposter Syndrome Scale (YISS), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Student Survey (MBI-SS). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression were employed to identify predictors of IS. Results A cohort of 685 students (mean age 21.2 ± 1.97 years; 51.8% female) completed the survey. The observed prevalence of IS was 41.6%. Significant associations were found between IS and strong family influence ( p = 0.01), elevated social pressure ( p < 0.001), a history of psychiatric or chronic medical illness ( p = 0.001), and short sleeping hours ( p = 0.02). Regression analysis revealed extreme social influence (OR = 3.65; p = 0.0007), sleep duration of less than 4 h (OR = 2.77; p = 0.0026), and self-perceived suboptimal academic performance (OR = 1.93; p = 0.02) as primary risk factors. The analysis revealed that students who felt a deep sense of cynicism and a diminished belief in their own professional capabilities were the most likely to experience Imposter Syndrome. Conclusion Imposter Syndrome is a significant issue among Egyptian medical students, deeply connected to burnout. To combat this, preventive measures should focus on strengthening psychological support systems, teaching practical stress management, and creating robust academic mentoring programs. These steps are essential to help safeguard the well-being of future physicians and reduce the burden of burnout and these fraudulent feelings.