Rejected Then, Fake Now? The Psychological Pathway to Impostor Phenomenon in Turkish Cultural Context

Abstract

This study examined how memories of parental rejection shape impostor phenomenon among Turkish undergraduates within the IPARTheory framework. Data from 782 students (69.3% female) showed that maternal and paternal rejection were significantly associated with impostor feelings, with psychological maladjustment serving as a central mediator. For men, paternal rejection influenced impostorism only indirectly, whereas for women, both parents’ rejection exerted partial direct and indirect effects, with maternal rejection particularly salient. Findings highlight how early parental rejection contributes to impostor feelings and underscore the need for family-focused interventions by counselors and youth workers to address maladaptive beliefs from early relational experiences.