The prevalence of imposter syndrome among young neurosurgeons and residents in neurosurgery: a multicentric study

Objective: Imposter syndrome (IS) occurs when high-achieving individuals have a pervasive sense of self-doubt combined with fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite objective measures of success. This is one of the main causes of burnout among professionals, threatening their mental health and general well-being. The prevalence and severity of IS among neurosurgery residents and young neurosurgeons has not been yet studied. The primary outcomes of this study were the prevalence and severity of IS. Methods: An anonymous cross-sectional survey including both a demographic questionnaire (Clance Imposter Phenomenon Survey) and compensatory mechanisms was distributed to young neurosurgeons and residents in neurosurgery in Italy. Results: A total of 103 responses were collected. The prevalence rate was 81.6%. Among the respondents with IS, 42.7% showed moderate signs, 27.2% frequent, and only 11.7% had an intense symptomatology. Level of education, female sex, and academic achievements were all identified as predictive factors of IS. Conclusions: A total of 81.6% of respondents reported potentially significant levels. The implications of IS on both the outcomes in patients and the well-being of neurosurgeons should be evaluated in future studies.