The Assessment of Prevalence and Predictors of Impostor Phenomenon Feelings Among Dental Students in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina—A Cross‐Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Background and Aims The impostor phenomenon (IP) is an individual's internal experience of intellectual phoniness, characterized by an inability to internalize success, leading to self‐doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud. We examined IP among Croatian and Bosnian‐ Herzegovinian undergraduate dental students. Methods A cross‐sectional study ( n = 679) was conducted at the School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb ( n = 355), and the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sarajevo ( n = 324). We aimed to assess the risk associated with certain predictors, such as sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, quality of life, physical and mental health, social interactions, mental health issues, and academic and non‐academic stressors, in relation to a clinically relevant level of impostorism measured by the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS). Results Dental schools in Sarajevo and Zagreb had similar average CIPS scores, 58.5 versus 58.7. Females had significantly higher average scores than males (Sarajevo: 60.1 vs. 53.7; Zagreb: 60.0 vs. 52.4). Every second student had a clinically relevant level of impostor feelings. Transitional years, 1st, 4th, and 6th, exhibited the highest average scores. Alcohol consumption, smoking, parental expectations, PHQ‐9 scores, and lower quality of life increased risk, while social inclusion in the broader community reduced risk. Conclusion IP is highly prevalent and influenced by internal and external factors. This study was the first to examine IP among Croatian and Bosnian and Herzegovinian dental students. Dental schools should implement targeted interventions and psychological support into curricula to build student resilience.