The Relationship Between Impostor Syndrome and Burnout in Postgraduate Students of the Health Science Program at Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26911/jepublichealth.2026.11.04.06Abstract
Background: Student mental health is a growing concern among postgraduate students, with burnout affecting well-being and impostor syndrome linked to it, though evidence in Indonesia is limited. This study aims to analyze the relationship between impostor syndrome and burnout among postgraduate health sciences students at Universitas Sebelas Maret.
Subjects and Methods: This was an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design conducted from April to May 2026 at the Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia. A total of 232 postgraduate students were selected using proportionate stratified random sampling. Burnout was the dependent variable, impostor syndrome was the independent variable, and confounders included sociodemographic factors and social support. Data were collected using CIPS, MBI-SS, and MSPSS questionnaires, and analyzed using Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression with STATA 13.
Results: Impostor syndrome was positively and significantly associated with burnout (r = 0.65; p<0.001). After controlling for confounding variables, in the multivariable analysis, impostor syndrome remained a significant predictor of burnout (β = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.32 to 0.51; p=<0.001), while social support showed a significant negative association (β = -0.25; 95% CI = -0.34 to -0.16; p<0.001). The model explained 48.5% of the variance in burnout (R² = 0.48).
Conclusion: Impostor syndrome is positively and significantly associated with burnout among postgraduate students, even after controlling for social support as a confounder, while social support shows a protective effect. These findings highlight the importance of considering psychological factors and social support in policies related to postgraduate student well-being.
Keywords:
impostor syndrome, burnout, postgraduate students, social supportHow to Cite
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