• Saad Alrayyes, Umar F Dar, Musab Alrayes, Ahmed Alghutayghit, and Nouf Alrayyes.
• College of Medicine, Jouf Universityl, Sakaka, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail. saadrayyes@gmail.com.
• Saudi Med J. 2020 Feb 1; 41 (2): 189-194.

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of imposter syndrome (IS) among Saudi adults and its association with burnout.MethodsUsing non-probability convenience sampling, we carried out a cross-sectional analytical study among adults in Northern Saudi Arabia. Data collection toll was a self-administered questionnaire containing young imposter scale (YIS), Maslach burnout inventory (MBI) and depression, anxiety, and stress scale 21 (DASS 21). These 3 scales are valid and reliable measurement tools for measuring IS, burnout, and psychological morbidity.ResultsIn the study sample (n=384), imposterism was present among 222 adults (57.8%). Moderate and severe symptoms of depression were present in 217 (56.5%), symptoms of stress in 210 (54.7%), and symptoms of anxiety in 126 (32.8%). Burnout was measured in 3 domains of depersonalization, emotion exhaustion, and personal accomplishments. High degree of depersonalization was found in 221 (57.6%), higher emotional exhaustion in 246 (64.1%) while lower personal accomplishment was present in 126 (32.8%). We found statistical association between IS and gender (p less than 0.01), depression (p less than 0.001) stress (p less than 0.001) and all 3 domains of burnout (p less than 0.01). Imposter syndrome was not found associated with anxiety (p=0.97). Young imposter scale score was associated with all the 3 domains of burnout even after controlling for depression, anxiety, and stress.ConclusionImposter syndrome is frequent among Saudi adults and associated with all 3 burnout domains. Mental health domains like burnout, depression, stress, and anxiety were found associated with IS.

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