Study Finds 97.5% of Women in STEM Graduate Programs Report Impostor Feelings

Some of the highest-performing people carry a private fear that others rarely see. Even with strong résumés and long lists of accomplishments, they worry that sooner or later someone will realize they do not truly belong.

In their own minds, top grades, prestigious awards, and hard-won research funding are not proof of ability. Instead, they explain success away as a coincidence, good timing, or simply being in the right place at the right moment—not talent, skill, or sustained effort.

What Impostorism Really Is

This pattern is known als impostorism, and it is not the same as low self-esteem or depression. Binghamton University psychology researcher Jiyun Elizabeth Shin describes it as persistent self-doubt even when objective evidence clearly shows success. Shin, a lecturer who leads the Social Identity & Academic Engagement Laboratory, recently published research on the topic in Social Psychology of Education, examining how impostor feelings relate to mental health, burnout, thoughts of dropping out, and achievement among women in STEM graduate programs.

Her findings suggest that the experience is extremely widespread. In Shin’s study, 97.5% of women in STEM graduate programs reported at least moderate impostor feelings. The risk may be even higher for people who hold multiple marginalized identities, including women of color.

“Impostorism is a feeling like being an intellectual fraud even when there is strong evidence of success,” Shin explained. “You believe that other people are overestimating your abilities and intelligence, and you fear that one day you’ll be exposed as incompetent and undeserving of your success.”

Why Success Gets Dismissed as Luck

At the center of impostorism is the way people interpret their abilities and past achievements. Those affected often struggle to accept that they earned their success. Instead, they credit external factors such as luck, timing, or help from others. This leads to a fear they will not be able to repeat past performance—and a constant worry that others will eventually see through what they view as an illusion.

While impostorism can affect anyone, additional pressure often falls on people from underrepresented or minoritized groups. Cultural assumptions and stereotypes can intensify self-doubt. In STEM fields, long-standing and inaccurate beliefs that women lack “natural” ability can make it harder to internalize accomplishments. Limited representation can reinforce the message as well, keeping societal doubts highly visible.

Mental Health and Burnout Risks

Shin’s research also links impostorism to significant negative outcomes. She found that stronger impostor feelings predicted poorer overall mental health, greater burnout, and increased consideration of dropping out among women in STEM graduate programs.

Impostor feelings are also associated with a fixed mindset—the belief that intelligence and ability are unchangeable. With that outlook, setbacks can feel like proof that earlier success was undeserved. Approaches that support a more flexible view of growth and learning may help reduce impostor experiences.

Why Talking About It Matters

Even though impostor feelings are common among high achievers, many people keep them private. That silence can deepen stress and isolation. More open discussion may be an important step toward coping, reducing shame, and protecting mental and emotional well-being.

Shin notes that more research is needed to identify effective strategies to reduce impostor experiences, but she adds that social support may play an important role in easing impostor fears.