Black Students’ Impostor Feelings and Mental Health at HBCUs and PWCUs: Examining Moderating Effects of Racial Identity and Cultural Congruity

This study investigated the relationship between the impostor phenomenon (IP) and mental health among Black students in different institutional contexts—specifically, whether they attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or a Predominantly White College or University (PWCU). The study investigated whether Black students’ experiences of impostorism were moderated by racial identity and cultural congruity. Data were collected through a web-based survey of 325 Black undergraduate and graduate students. There were no significant differences in IP between HBCU and PWCU students. While racial centrality did not emerge as a significant moderator, cultural congruity significantly moderated the association between impostor feelings and mental health. The results suggest that impostor feelings are more damaging to Black students’ mental health when they experience higher cultural congruity, while having little effect when they experience lower cultural congruity. These findings underscore the importance of considering contextual and institutional factors when addressing the impostor phenomenon in research and practice aimed at supporting the well-being of Black students.