The imposter phenomenon in psychiatrists: relationships among compassion fatigue, burnout, and maladaptive perfectionism
Abstract Background The imposter phenomenon is the unwillingness to acknowledge one’s triumphs, which is common among doctors. Research on the imposter phenomenon among mental health professionals is limited, and the relationship between imposter phenomenon, burnout, and compassion fatigue has not b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06470-7 |
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| author | Nur Nihal Türkel Ahmet Selim Başaran Hande Gazey İrem Ekmekçi Ertek |
| author_facet | Nur Nihal Türkel Ahmet Selim Başaran Hande Gazey İrem Ekmekçi Ertek |
| author_sort | Nur Nihal Türkel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The imposter phenomenon is the unwillingness to acknowledge one’s triumphs, which is common among doctors. Research on the imposter phenomenon among mental health professionals is limited, and the relationship between imposter phenomenon, burnout, and compassion fatigue has not been studied. The current study intended to test a hypothesized model of the specific impact paths among burnout, compassion fatigue, maladaptive perfectionism, and imposter phenomenon among mental health professionals. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional online survey was conducted from June 2023 to September 2023. The sample (n = 160) consisted of psychiatrists. A path analysis was used to test the relationships among study variables and assess model fit. Results A strong correlation was found between the imposter phenomenon and burnout and compassion fatigue when controlling age and months of work for both genders. Maladaptive perfectionism, directly and indirectly, affected the imposter phenomenon through burnout and compassion fatigue. Conclusion This study found that burnout and maladaptive perfectionism impact the imposter phenomenon in psychiatrists. To mitigate the effects of the imposter phenomenon on mental health professionals, societal norms that contribute to burnout and perfectionism must be reassessed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fbed68276f364c4b8130a8994a9dfa0c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-fbed68276f364c4b8130a8994a9dfa0c2025-01-12T12:34:23ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-01-0125111010.1186/s12888-025-06470-7The imposter phenomenon in psychiatrists: relationships among compassion fatigue, burnout, and maladaptive perfectionismNur Nihal Türkel0Ahmet Selim Başaran1Hande Gazey2İrem Ekmekçi Ertek3Department of Psychiatry, Ankara Penitentiary Campus State HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, Ünye State HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, Bakırköy Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Education and Research HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, Gazi University Faculty of MedicineAbstract Background The imposter phenomenon is the unwillingness to acknowledge one’s triumphs, which is common among doctors. Research on the imposter phenomenon among mental health professionals is limited, and the relationship between imposter phenomenon, burnout, and compassion fatigue has not been studied. The current study intended to test a hypothesized model of the specific impact paths among burnout, compassion fatigue, maladaptive perfectionism, and imposter phenomenon among mental health professionals. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional online survey was conducted from June 2023 to September 2023. The sample (n = 160) consisted of psychiatrists. A path analysis was used to test the relationships among study variables and assess model fit. Results A strong correlation was found between the imposter phenomenon and burnout and compassion fatigue when controlling age and months of work for both genders. Maladaptive perfectionism, directly and indirectly, affected the imposter phenomenon through burnout and compassion fatigue. Conclusion This study found that burnout and maladaptive perfectionism impact the imposter phenomenon in psychiatrists. To mitigate the effects of the imposter phenomenon on mental health professionals, societal norms that contribute to burnout and perfectionism must be reassessed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06470-7Imposter phenomenonBurnoutPerfectionismMental health professionals |
| spellingShingle | Nur Nihal Türkel Ahmet Selim Başaran Hande Gazey İrem Ekmekçi Ertek The imposter phenomenon in psychiatrists: relationships among compassion fatigue, burnout, and maladaptive perfectionism BMC Psychiatry Imposter phenomenon Burnout Perfectionism Mental health professionals |
| title | The imposter phenomenon in psychiatrists: relationships among compassion fatigue, burnout, and maladaptive perfectionism |
| title_full | The imposter phenomenon in psychiatrists: relationships among compassion fatigue, burnout, and maladaptive perfectionism |
| title_fullStr | The imposter phenomenon in psychiatrists: relationships among compassion fatigue, burnout, and maladaptive perfectionism |
| title_full_unstemmed | The imposter phenomenon in psychiatrists: relationships among compassion fatigue, burnout, and maladaptive perfectionism |
| title_short | The imposter phenomenon in psychiatrists: relationships among compassion fatigue, burnout, and maladaptive perfectionism |
| title_sort | imposter phenomenon in psychiatrists relationships among compassion fatigue burnout and maladaptive perfectionism |
| topic | Imposter phenomenon Burnout Perfectionism Mental health professionals |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06470-7 |
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