A Tool for Examining the Role of Social Context: Cross-National Validation of the Impostor Phenomenon Short Scale (IPSS-3)

Max Philipp Jansen () and Yosi Yaffe
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Max Philipp Jansen: Faculty of Social Sciences, Goethe University, D-60323 Frankfurt, Germany
Yosi Yaffe: Department of Special Education, Tel-Hai Academic College, Kiryat Shmona 12210, Israel

Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: Despite decades of research, major gaps remain in understanding the Impostor Phenomenon (IP), particularly regarding its social stratification and structural implications. While traditionally viewed through a merely psychological lens, the IP is increasingly recognized as being shaped by broader contexts such as structural inequalities and discrimination. This study aims to provide a concise, cross-nationally validated instrument for measuring IP feelings in large-scale surveys. We validate the Impostor Phenomenon Short Scale (IPSS-3), a brief self-report instrument suitable for surveys with limited assessment time. Using data from 424 German- and 477 Hebrew-speaking adolescents and young adults (aged 16–28), the factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the IPSS-3 are examined via its correlations with the external locus of control and self-esteem. These analyses confirm high reliability and consistent validity across both samples. The IPSS-3 enables researchers to explore the intersection of IP-related self-doubt and perceived lack of belonging with opportunities for social participation, workplace belonging, career development, and social mobility. By providing a reliable and efficient measure of the IP, this study promotes interdisciplinary research on the IP and enhances a nuanced understanding of how subjective self-perceptions intersect with structural opportunities and social stratification.

Keywords: Impostor Phenomenon; Short Scale; cross-national validation; large-scale data collections; longitudinal research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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