A phenomenological study on imposter syndrome of pandemic college graduates

• Main Authors: Reyes, Enrique Luis L., Delfinado, Joey T., Hernandez, Eiman Lander D., Lopez, Maria Leira S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2022
• Subjects: Impostor phenomenon; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdb_psych/29; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdb_psych/article/1048/viewcontent/2023_Delfinado_Hernandez_A_Phenomenological_Study_on_Imposter_Syndrome_Full_text.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone to adapt to a “new normal”, however, relatively little literature investigates the Philippine pandemic college graduates’ experience of imposter syndrome worsened by the effects of the present situation. This study explored the lived experiences of Philippine pandemic college graduates, the different contributing factors that are perceived to affect these experiences, and the overall impact of imposter syndrome using phenomenology. An interview was conducted for the final pool of 8 participants screened through a pre-survey. Thematic analysis was first done with the data gathered from the interview which was then elevated following phenomenological approaches. Four (4) final themes emerged namely (1) Sense of futility throughout a recurring cycle of expectations and comparisons, (2) Sense of unpreparedness as one struggles to adapt post-graduation after restrictions during online setup (3) The fear of the COVID-19 pandemic brought anxiety as students struggled with personal and social stressors and (4) Reaction to the need for personal development that contribute to a narrative of expectation and comparison as a whole. This narrative matches closely with current imposter syndrome models, includes direct and indirect effects of the pandemic as contributing factors and discusses a major part of the experience that is not included in the models.