Table 1
Medical student responses to individual items on the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scalea
|
Item rank |
Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale Item |
Total sample score |
Item-total corr. (r) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total sample |
Males |
Females | |||
|
1 |
1 |
3 |
1. I have often succeeded on a test or task even though I was afraid that I would not do well before I undertook the task |
3.91 ± 0.75** |
0.12 |
|
2 |
3 |
2 |
19. If I’m going to receive a promotion or gain recognition of some kind, I hesitate to tell others until it is an accomplished fact |
3.91 ± 1.14*** |
0.41******* |
|
3 |
2 |
4 |
7. I tend to remember the incidents in which I have not done my best more than those times I have done my best |
3.83 ± 1.06**** |
0.61******* |
|
4 |
5 |
1* |
17. I often compare my ability to those around me and think they may be more intelligent than I am |
3.81 ± 1.13**** |
0.66******* |
|
5 |
8 |
5* |
18. I often worry about not succeeding with a project or examination, even though others around me have considerable confidence that I will do well |
3.42 ± 1.17***** |
0.71******* |
|
6 |
7 |
6 |
16. If I receive a great deal of praise and recognition for something I’ve accomplished, I tend to discount the importance of what I’ve done |
3.31 ± 1.23****** |
0.71******* |
|
7 |
6 |
7 |
12. I’m disappointed at times in my present accomplishments and think I should have accomplished much more |
3.28 ± 1.18****** |
0.64******* |
|
8 |
9 |
8 |
20. I feel bad and discouraged if I’m not “the best” or at least “very special” in situations that involve achievement |
3.24 ± 1.22****** |
0.45******* |
|
9 |
4 |
11 |
2. I can give the impression that I’m more competent than I really am |
3.23 ± 1.09****** |
0.13 |
|
10 |
14 |
9 |
14. I’m often afraid that I may fail at a new assignment or undertaking even though I generally do well at what I attempt |
3.12 ± 1.10****** |
0.80******* |
|
11 |
12 |
10 |
13. Sometimes I’m afraid others will discover how much knowledge or ability I really lack |
3.09 ± 1.26****** |
0.79******* |
|
12 |
11 |
12 |
8. I rarely do a project or task as well as I’d like to do it |
2.98 ± 1.00****** |
0.60******* |
|
13 |
13 |
16 |
5. I sometimes think I obtained my present position or gained my present success because I happened to be in the right place at the right time or knew the right people |
2.90 ± 1.27 |
0.59******* |
|
14 |
10 |
17 |
6. I’m afraid people important to me may find out that I’m not as capable as they think I am |
2.90 ± 1.24 |
0.77******* |
|
15 |
16 |
13 |
10. It’s hard for me to accept compliments or praise about my intelligence or accomplishments |
2.87 ± 1.26 |
0.71******* |
|
16 |
17 |
15 |
15. When I’ve succeeded at something and received recognition for my accomplishments, I have doubts that I can keep repeating that success |
2.81 ± 1.22 |
0.80******* |
|
17 |
15 |
19 |
11. At times, I feel my success has been due to some kind of luck |
2.79 ± 1.20 |
0.72******* |
|
18 |
18 |
16 |
3. I avoid evaluations if possible and have a dread of others evaluating me |
2.79 ± 1.21 |
0.50******* |
|
19 |
19 |
14 |
4. When people praise me for something I’ve accomplished, I’m afraid I won’t be able to live up to their expectations of me in the future |
2.73 ± 1.25 |
0.72******* |
|
20 |
20 |
20 |
9. Sometimes I feel or believe that my success in my life or in my job has been the result of some kind of error |
2.26 ± 1.22 |
0.80******* |
Data are the mean ± SD (N = 111–112).
*p < 0.01 v. males by Chi-square and Mantel-Haenszel Chi-square tests
**p < 0.05 v. Ranks 6–20 for total sample by Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA on ranks followed by Dunn’s test.
***p < 0.05 v. Ranks 7–20 for total sample.
****p < 0.05 v. Ranks 10–20 for total sample.
*****p < 0.05 v. Ranks 17–20 for total sample.
******p < 0.05 v. Rank 20 for total sample.
*******p < 0.0001 by Spearman correlation.
aUsed and reproduced with permission. From [45]. Copyright 1985 by Pauline Rose Clance, Ph.D., ABPP. Do not reproduce without permission from Pauline Rose Clance, drpaulinerose@comcast.net, www.paulineroseclance.com
Fig. 1
Distributions of responses by male and female medical students to CIPS items 17 (a) and 18 (b). For item 17, comparing self to others, the mean score (± SD) for males (n = 46) was 3.35 ± 1.22; females (n = 65), 4.14 ± 0.94. For item 18, worrying about succeding despite the confidence of others, the mean score for males (n = 46) was 3.04 ± 1.25; females (n = 64), 3.69 ± 1.05. For both items, rating was higher for females (p < 0.01) by chi-square and Mantel-Haenszel chi-square tests
Fig. 2
Distributions of responses to CIPS item 3, avoiding and dreading evaluations, in students responding affirmatively for burnout (a) or depersonalization (b). The mean score (± SD) was 2.56 ± 1.13 for burnout-negative (n = 68), 3.30 ± 1.17 for burnout positive (n = 43) and 2.80 ± 1.28 for depersonalization-negative (n = 59) and 3.17 ± 1.18 for depersonalization-positive (n = 52). Students positive for burnout or depersonalization endorsed higher frequency of CIPS item 3 (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) by chi-square and Mantel-Haenszel chi-square tests
Fig. 3
Relationship between responses to CIPS Items 1 (a) and 2 (b) and total CIPS score. Item 1 concerns unfounded fear of failure. Item 2 concerns being able to give the impression of being more competent than one actually is. For item 1, r = 0.12 by Spearman correlation. The mean score (± SD) was 3.91 ± 0.75 (n = 111). For item 2, r = 0.13. The mean score was 3.23 ± 1.09 (n = 112)
