Article critique paper

Study Overview

  • Title: Prevalence of imposter syndrome and its association with depression, stress, and anxiety among nursing students: a multi-center cross-sectional study

  • Authors: Ayman Mohamed El‑Ashry, et al.

  • Published In: BMC Nursing, 2024

  • License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

  • Objective: Examine the prevalence of imposter syndrome among nursing students and its association with depression, stress, and anxiety.

Methodology

  • Study Design: Multi-center cross-sectional survey.

  • Participants: 1,572 nursing students from three universities in Egypt, selected randomly.

  • Data Collection Period: January to March 2024.

  • Instruments Used:

    • Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale (CIPS)

    • Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21)

  • Key Findings:

    • High levels of depression, anxiety, and stress reported among participants.

    • 25% moderate depression, 22.6% moderate anxiety, and 14.9% severe anxiety.

    • 46.3% experienced moderate imposter syndrome.

    • Imposter syndrome correlates positively with depression, anxiety, and stress (r=0.639, p<0.001).

Results

Prevalence of Mental Health Issues

  • Depression:

    • Normal: 43.8%

    • Mild: 16.2%

    • Moderate: 24.1%

    • Severe: 9.2%

    • Extremely Severe: 6.8%

  • Anxiety:

    • Normal: 33.8%

    • Mild: 7.2%

    • Moderate: 22.6%

    • Severe: 14.9%

    • Extremely Severe: 21.6%

  • Stress:

    • Normal: 54.1%

    • Mild: 14.6%

    • Moderate: 14.2%

    • Severe: 13.3%

    • Extremely Severe: 3.8%

Imposter Syndrome Levels

  • Low levels: 14.6%

  • Moderate: 46.3%

  • Frequent: 33%

  • Intense: 6.2%

Demographic Insights

  • Majority aged 20-22 (53.8%), mostly female (66.7%).

  • More first-year students (38.3%); GPA mostly between 3-4 (78.5%).

  • Significant demographic correlations:

    • Higher rates of impostor syndrome among females, urban residents, and students with lower GPA.

Discussion

  • Imposter Syndrome Overview:

    • A psychological phenomenon causing self-doubt and feelings of fraudulence despite evident success.

  • Association with Mental Health:

    • Imposter syndrome linked to increased depression, anxiety, and stress among nursing students.

    • Recognized as a prevalent challenge in nursing education, affecting academic performance and patient care quality.

Nursing Implications

  • Education and Resources:

    • Emphasize self-care and stress management in nursing curricula.

    • Need for mentorship and support networks to help students manage challenges.

  • Holistic Approach:

    • Necessity for systemic changes in nursing education to address issues of mental health and wellbeing among students.

Conclusion

  • Key Findings:

    • Significant prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, and imposter syndrome among nursing students.

  • Recommendations for Future Research:

    • Expand studies to include diverse demographics and examine impacting personality qualities, coping strategies, and resilience.