Fenômeno impostor em estudantes de medicina: interações com sintomas psíquicos e fatores socioculturais

Abstract

ntroduction: The Impostor Phenomenon (IF) is related to self-perception of intellectual inferiority in relation to its peers. Prevalent in medical students, when related to anxiety and depression, it can trigger psychic and academic impairments. Objective: To analyze the impostor phenomenon and its relationship with psychic symptoms, academic performance, and sociocultural factors of medical students from the Federal University of Tocantins, Campus of Palmas/TO. Methodology: Quantitative, analytical-descriptive, and cross-sectional study with 322 medical students from the second to the twelfth periods. Data collection occurred by digital form through "Google Forms", composed of three instruments: Sociocultural questionnaire and psychological conditions; Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale; and Brief Inventory of Symptoms. The statistical analysis was performed by the SPSS, with calculations of measures of central tendency and variability and absolute and percentage frequencies. Fisher's Chi-square or Exact Test was used to verify the association between the IF outcome variable and sociocultural variables, psychological conditions, and psychic symptoms. The normality of quantitative variables was verified by the Shapiro-Wilk test. Spearman's correlations between the IF and the variables academic performance, Global Severity Index (GSI) and its dimensions were estimated. The results of the statistical tests were considered significant at the level of 5%. Results: The following frequencies were verified for the IF categories: 9.9% with mild degree; 39.8% with moderate, 36.3% with severe and 14.0% with very severe. Statistical tests showed significant associations between IF and the variables gender, marital status, psychiatric treatment, use of psychiatric medication, psychological follow-up and, at the significance limit, with paid work. The associations of the IF categories (mild, moderate, severe, and very severe) with those of the GSI (positive and negative) and with those of its nine dimensions (positive and negative) were all significant. The General Coefficient of Academic Performance did not obtain statistical significance for linear relationship with IF. Conclusion: Approximately half of the students have high degrees of FI. Greater severity is associated with female gender, single or divorced marital status, psychological follow-up, psychiatric treatment, and the use of psychiatric medication. IF in greater magnitudes is related to the presence of psychic symptoms.