Psychological Distress, Impostor Phenomenon and Psychological Capital among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Ramping up figures of psychological morbidities and projected increases in distress rates by researchers coupled with tumult in the educational system in the wake of the ongoing pandemic compels authors to study psychosocial and demographic correlates of distress among students. This paper examines the risk and protective factors of distress, including its components. 323 students were recruited for the final study. Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-12), and Depression, Stress, Anxiety Scale (DASS-21) were used to measure impostor phenomenon (IP), psychological capital (PsyCap), and psychological distress respectively. Pearson’s correlation, Chi-square, and multinomial logistical regression were used to assess the magnitude of the correlation among variables, and to find predictors of distress. In the current sample, the frequency of stress, anxiety, and depression was found to be 75.9%, 62.5%, and 61.6% respectively. IP, PsyCap, and a range of demographic variables were found to be significantly associated with stress, anxiety, depression, and distress. Distress remains unaffected by factors such as age ranges, income, and experience of COVID-19, among other demographic variables. Furthermore, IP (χ2 (2) = 38.05, p= .000), history of mental illness (χ2 (2) = 13.59, p= .017) and higher levels of education (χ2 (2) = 7.06, p= .019) were found to predict higher levels of distress in the current sample. PsyCap emerged as a significant predictor for anxiety (χ2 (2) = 18.99, p= .003) and depression (χ2 (2) = 19.16, p= .000); it, however, did not predict stress (χ2 (2) = .058, p= .811) and overall distress (χ2 (2) = 3.51, p= .077) among university students. Results highlight the relationship between IP, PsyCap, and distress and the need to take the relevant factors into account to make informed decisions regarding services and measures.