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

Despite decades of research, major gaps remain in understanding the origins and societal implications of the Impostor Phenomenon (IP). Social research has addressed health implications and the role of social contexts, which is crucial given pathologizing tendencies in IP research. However, large-scale empirical evidence is rare, partly because suitable instruments are missing. This study introduces the Impostor Phenomenon Short Scale (IPSS-3) as a time-efficient IP instrument suitable for surveys covering various topics with limited assessment time. Data from 424 German and 477 Hebrew-speaking adolescents and young adults is used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the IPSS-3. Results demonstrate that the IPSS-3 is a reliable instrument ready for implementation in different fields, showing high internal consistency and strong correlations with two validation scales, namely external locus of control and self-esteem. The IPSS-3 is thus a robust tool that can facilitate new ventures in IP research from a social science perspective.