Correlation between impostor syndrome among doctoral students and supervisor empathy in Tunisia.

Journal: Frontiers in psychology

Volume: 15

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (Di.S.Te.B.A.), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy. Higher Institute of Education and Continuing Training, Virtual University of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.

Abstract summary 

The prevalence of impostor syndrome among PhD students has increased rapidly in recent years, having very negative effects on their mental and psychological health as well as on their doctoral journey. This exploratory study aims to examine whether there is a causal correlation between impostor syndrome among PhD students and empathy among supervisors.This study encompasses 562 doctoral students (300 females, 262 males) and 152 Tunisian supervisors (68 females, 84 males).Employing ANOVA, significant influences on impostor syndrome emerge for gender, marital status, professional status, and the doctoral enrollment level ( < 0.001). Concurrently, supervisors' empathy is significantly affected by gender, marital status, and experience ( < 0.001). Linear regression establishes a noteworthy negative correlation ( = 0.045): a 1-unit increase in empathy correlates with a 0.122-unit decrease in impostor syndrome.These findings underscore the intricate relationship between socio-professional factors, empathy, and impostor syndrome within the academic milieu, offering crucial insights for interventions and psychological support. The study aligns with the broader context of understanding mental health challenges in academia, emphasizing the imperative for ongoing support initiatives.

Authors & Co-authors:  Slimi Oumayma O Muscella Antonella A Marsigliante Santo S Bahloul Mourad M

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Bai B., Ge Y., Li Z. (2023). Psychological study of international doctoral students studying in China: cross-cultural adaptation. Curr. Psychol. 42, 32270–32283. doi: 10.1007/s12144-022-04133-4
Authors :  4
Identifiers
Doi : 1382969
SSN : 1664-1078
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
academic environment;doctoral students;doctoral supervisor;empathy;impostor syndrome;socio-professional factors
Study Design
Exploratory Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Tunisia
Publication Country
Switzerland