Women in high-flying jobs are still far more likely than their male colleagues to fall victim to ‘imposter syndrome’, new research shows.
Females working in academia and health are most at risk of feeling like frauds, despite being very successful.
Women plastic surgeons are also particularly prone to the syndrome, but gender differences are smaller among business people.
California University researchers came to the conclusion after analysing more than 40 years of data from 42,000 people worldwide.
Previous recent research had suggested women’s feelings of imposter syndrome had declined, with increasing numbers of them in top jobs.
But the new study reports: ‘Although the claim that there is no gender difference appears repeatedly, it is flatly contradicted by this research.’
Psychologists first revealed imposter syndrome in the 1970s, believing women were more likely to suffer than men because of social stereotypes of them being ‘less intelligent and less capable’.
That led women to seek other reasons for their success, such as ‘good luck’.
They believe they are not as intelligent or able as others and have difficulty acknowledging praise.
Researchers say the mental health consequences include anxiety, depression, burn-out and an inability to enjoy the success they have earned.
The California University findings are reported in the journal Current Research in Behavioural Sciences.