Intensity of Impostor Phenomenon and Perceived Contributing Factors among Early-career Occupational Therapists in India

Abstract Introduction Impostor phenomenon is characterized by persistent self-doubt and fear of exposure as incompetent despite evidence of success. It is highly prevalent among health workers, particularly those in early-career stages facing new role demands and transition stress. Despite its relevance and growing evidence in healthcare, impostor phenomenon remains underexplored among occupational therapists. This study aimed to assess the intensity of impostor phenomenon and identify perceived personal, occupational and environmental contributors among early-career occupational therapists in India. Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 100 occupational therapists in India with less than two years of experience recruited through snowball sampling using an expert-validated questionnaire incorporating the Leary Impostorism Scale and constructs from the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement. Descriptive statistics and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to examine impostor phenomenon scores across professional and demographic factors, and percentage endorsements were calculated for perceived contributing factors. Results Overall, 25% of the participants demonstrated moderate-high to high intensity impostor phenomenon. Females had significantly higher scores than males (U = 594, p = 0.046), whereas age, qualification and experience demonstrated no significant differences. The most frequently endorsed contributors included fear of being perceived as inexperienced (36%), physical exhaustion (35%), people-pleasing tendencies (32%), transitional challenges (31%), pressure to collaborate (30%), limited professional opportunities (27%) and lack of recognition (26%). Conclusion These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of impostor phenomenon among early-career occupational therapists, with contributions from personal, occupational, and environmental factors. Future research is needed to examine the relative contribution of these factors to inform targeted interventions.