Imposter phenomenon and resilience in Lebanese university students: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Imposter phenomenon (IP) is characterized by persistent self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evident success. It is increasingly recognized among university students and has been linked to anxiety, depression, and burnout. Resilience, defined as the capacity to adapt positively under stress, may buffer against IP, yet this relationship remains understudied in the Lebanese cultural context. AIM To examine imposter phenomenon prevalence, its association with resilience, and related sociodemographic and academic factors in Lebanese university students. METHODS A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted on June 22-26, 2023 among 630 students recruited through convenience and snowball sampling. The Young Imposter Scale and the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale were used to assess IP and resilience. Non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U , Kruskal-Wallis, χ 2) compared groups, and effect sizes (r , η 2) were calculated. RESULTS Overall, 42.5% of participants exhibited IP. IP was significantly more prevalent among females (47.3% vs 33.3%, P < 0.001), those feeling overwhelmed, and students with worsened academic performance. In contrast, students satisfied with their major, supported by peers or family, or practicing coping strategies exhibited lower IP rates and higher resilience scores. Mean resilience was 25.5 ± 6.8 and was significantly higher among males and those employed, satisfied, or supported. IP was inversely associated with resilience (P < 0.001), indicating that greater resilience correlates with reduced imposter feelings. CONCLUSION Nearly half of Lebanese university students experienced impostor phenomenon; enhancing resilience and supportive academic environments may reduce impostor feelings, improve mental health, and guide culturally sensitive longitudinal interventions.