Navigating self-perception: Exploring imposter syndrome among nursing students and the relationship with psychological capital profile

Background: Impostor syndrome is progressively recognized among nursing students which can negatively affect their psychological well-being and academic certainty. Psychological capital has been determined as a possible protective factor against negative psychological outcomes. This study aimed to assess the relationship between impostor syndrome and psychological capital among nursing students. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was utilized. A total of 205 undergraduate nursing students participated in the study. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale, and the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ). Results: The mean impostor syndrome score was 66.2+11.3, indicating moderate to high levels of impostor feelings. Overall, 61.0% of students experienced frequent to intense impostor syndrome. Participants demonstrated moderate to high psychological capital, with a mean total PCQ score of 100.4+10.2. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a statistically significant negative relationship between impostor syndrome and total psychological capital (r = ?0.61, p