Relationship Between Impostor Phenomenon, Rumination, And Burnout Among University Students

Abstract

University students face considerable academic and psychological pressure that can affect their mental health and academic functioning. Among the psychological challenges reported in higher education, the impostor phenomenon, a persistent belief that one's achievements are undeserved, has been linked to ruminative thinking and emotional exhaustion. This study examined the relationships among the impostor phenomenon, rumination, and burnout among 309 university students in Pakistan using a quantitative cross-sectional design. The sample was selected by non-probability convenience sampling in private and government universities of Sialkot. The data were collected through standardized measures such as Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale, Ruminative Responses Scale, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. The analysis of the data was carried out descriptively and Pearson product–moment correlation analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 21. Pearson product-moment correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between the impostor phenomenon and rumination (r = .54, p < .01). However, neither the impostor phenomenon nor rumination showed a significant relationship with burnout. These findings suggest that cultural and social factors, particularly family co-residence and collectivist support structures common among Pakistani students, may buffer the progression from self-doubt and rumination toward burnout. The study contributes to the limited literature on student mental health in South Asian contexts and highlights impostor-related rumination as a meaningful target for university mental health interventions.