Self-esteem as a mediator of the link between perfectionism and the impostor phenomenon

Kevin Cokley; Steven Stone; Nolan Krueger; Marlon Bailey; Ramya Garba; Ashley Hurst

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2018.07.032

Self-esteem as a mediator of the link between perfectionism and the impostor phenomenon

Kevin Cokley
, Steven Stone
, Nolan Krueger
, Marlon Bailey
, Ramya Garba
, Ashley Hurst

Psychiatry

Upstate Medical University

University of Texas at Austin

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

61 Scopus citations

Abstract

Perfectionism has been linked to the impostor phenomenon; however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. Self-esteem was examined for its potential mediating role in the relationship between dimensions of perfectionism (e.g., discrepancy and standards) and the impostor phenomenon among 468 college students. Analyses indicated that self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between perfectionism and impostor feelings. Discrepancy had a positive direct and indirect effect on impostor feelings through the mechanism of self-esteem, while standards had a negative indirect effect on impostor feelings through the mechanism of self-esteem. Implications for enhancing self-esteem among students experiencing maladaptive perfectionism and impostor feelings are discussed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	292-297
Number of pages	6
Journal	Personality and Individual Differences
Volume	135
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.07.032
State	Published - Dec 1 2018

Keywords

Impostor phenomenon
Perfectionism
Self-esteem

Access to Document

10.1016/j.paid.2018.07.032

Cite this

@article{168867c12a704522bac22e05facc995e,

title = "Self-esteem as a mediator of the link between perfectionism and the impostor phenomenon",

abstract = "Perfectionism has been linked to the impostor phenomenon; however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. Self-esteem was examined for its potential mediating role in the relationship between dimensions of perfectionism (e.g., discrepancy and standards) and the impostor phenomenon among 468 college students. Analyses indicated that self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between perfectionism and impostor feelings. Discrepancy had a positive direct and indirect effect on impostor feelings through the mechanism of self-esteem, while standards had a negative indirect effect on impostor feelings through the mechanism of self-esteem. Implications for enhancing self-esteem among students experiencing maladaptive perfectionism and impostor feelings are discussed.",

keywords = "Impostor phenomenon, Perfectionism, Self-esteem",

author = "Kevin Cokley and Steven Stone and Nolan Krueger and Marlon Bailey and Ramya Garba and Ashley Hurst",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2018",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.paid.2018.07.032",

language = "English",

volume = "135",

pages = "292--297",

journal = "Personality and Individual Differences",

issn = "0191-8869",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Self-esteem as a mediator of the link between perfectionism and the impostor phenomenon

AU - Cokley, Kevin

AU - Stone, Steven

AU - Krueger, Nolan

AU - Bailey, Marlon

AU - Garba, Ramya

AU - Hurst, Ashley

PY - 2018/12/1

Y1 - 2018/12/1

N2 - Perfectionism has been linked to the impostor phenomenon; however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. Self-esteem was examined for its potential mediating role in the relationship between dimensions of perfectionism (e.g., discrepancy and standards) and the impostor phenomenon among 468 college students. Analyses indicated that self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between perfectionism and impostor feelings. Discrepancy had a positive direct and indirect effect on impostor feelings through the mechanism of self-esteem, while standards had a negative indirect effect on impostor feelings through the mechanism of self-esteem. Implications for enhancing self-esteem among students experiencing maladaptive perfectionism and impostor feelings are discussed.

AB - Perfectionism has been linked to the impostor phenomenon; however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. Self-esteem was examined for its potential mediating role in the relationship between dimensions of perfectionism (e.g., discrepancy and standards) and the impostor phenomenon among 468 college students. Analyses indicated that self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between perfectionism and impostor feelings. Discrepancy had a positive direct and indirect effect on impostor feelings through the mechanism of self-esteem, while standards had a negative indirect effect on impostor feelings through the mechanism of self-esteem. Implications for enhancing self-esteem among students experiencing maladaptive perfectionism and impostor feelings are discussed.

KW - Impostor phenomenon

KW - Perfectionism

KW - Self-esteem

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85050597056

U2 - 10.1016/j.paid.2018.07.032

DO - 10.1016/j.paid.2018.07.032

M3 - Article

SN - 0191-8869

VL - 135

SP - 292

EP - 297

JO - Personality and Individual Differences

JF - Personality and Individual Differences

ER -

Self-esteem as a mediator of the link between perfectionism and the impostor phenomenon

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this