Coping with impostor feelings: evidence-based recommendations from a mixed methods study

The negative effects of impostor phenomenon, also called impostor
syndrome, include burnout and decreased job satisfaction and have
led to an increased interest in addressing this issue in libraries in
recent years. While previous research has shown that many librarians
experience impostor phenomenon, the experience of coping with these
feelings has not been widely studied. Our study’s aim was to understand
how health sciences librarians cope with impostor phenomenon in the
workplace, using a quantitative analysis of survey results. We found that
coping strategies that drew on the help of another person or resource,
such as education, support from colleagues, and mentorship were associated
with lower impostor scores and more often rated as effective, while
internal strategies like reflection, mindfulness, and recording praise
were associated with less effectiveness and a greater likelihood of
impostor feelings. Most respondents reported their strategies to be
effective, and the use of any strategy appears to be more effective than
not using one at all. While considering the potential impacts of white
supremacy culture, the resilience narrative, and open communication in
library organizations, this study provides evidence-based recommendations
for librarians, library leaders, and our professional organizations to
raise awareness about impostor phenomenon and support our colleagues
experiencing these feelings.