Navigating Imposter Syndrome in Youth: A Guide for Young Adults and Students

Everything You Need to Know

Introduction

Have you ever felt like a fraud? Maybe you have felt like you do not deserve certain accomplishments you have achieved. Or perhaps, you have felt that when it comes to your successes, you have just gotten lucky.

If that sounds familiar to you, you may have experienced what is known as imposter syndrome. This phenomenon involves self-doubt and the fear of being “found out” despite evidence of your competence and success (Cuncic, 2026). Imposter syndrome can present itself through thoughts such as: “Why is everybody smarter / more advanced than me?”, “Do I belong here?” and “When will they realize I am not as competent as them?” (Imposter Syndrome, n.d.).

An estimated 70% of people experience these thoughts at some point in their lives (Abrams, 2018). Broadly, impostor phenomenon has been identified across both men and women, across a variety of different cultures, and in a wide range of populations including students, academics, psychiatrists and doctors (Walker & Saklofske, 2023).

To add on, youths who struggle with impostor syndrome may face having their full potential limited when pervasive self-doubt makes them less likely to speak up in class or skip opportunities that they do in fact qualify for (Imposter Syndrome, n.d.). Imposter syndrome is also associated with feelings of anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and fear of failure (Walker & Saklofske, 2023) which youths may experience too.

Indeed, the developmental phase of young adulthood gives such feelings plenty of places to show up in. Therefore, it matters that young Singaporeans understand what to do when thoughts of self-doubt start getting in the way of an accurate assessment of their abilities and accomplishments.

Key Takeaway of This Article

Imposter syndrome can make you doubt your abilities even when there is evidence that you are doing well. It is common during transitionary and new stages such as university, internships and early working life. Learning to recognize these thoughts, check them against reality, avoiding broad comparisons and speaking to someone you trust can help you assess yourself more fairly.

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

First coined by psychologists Pauline Rode Clance and Suzanne Imes to describe the internal experience of doubting your abilities, “Imposter Phenomenon” or more commonly known as “Imposter Syndrome” (Imposter Syndrome, n.d.), is the idea that you have only succeeded due to luck and external factors, and not because of your talent or qualifications. To be precise, impostor syndrome can apply to anyone “who is not able to internalize and own their successes (Abrams, 2018). Personality types that increase the likelihood of experiencing imposter syndrome may include perfectionists, experts and highly skilled individuals and people who prefer to work alone (Imposter Syndrome, n.d.).

In illustration, you may have been offered an internship at a well-known organization however you may feel as if you have only made it due to factors outside of your own abilities. Additionally, you may agonize over even the smallest mistakes in your work, feel inferior to your peers and that you have deceived others despite evidence to suggest the contrary (Walker & Saklofske, 2023).

Interestingly, imposter syndrome is not a recognized disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Eldridge, 2026), and the causes of imposter syndrome are not very certain. Rather, imposter syndrome in youth can be due to a wide range of factors such as socioeconomic factors, family, ethnicity, personality (Walker & Saklofske, 2023) and systemic discrimination (Imposter Syndrome, n.d.). In fact, simply being around other high achievers at an “elite institution” can also lead to imposter feelings. (Abrams, 2018) Impostor feelings are often more prominent in transitional situations like during the first year of university (Walker & Saklofske, 2023).

Why is Navigating Imposter Syndrome Important?

Persistent self-doubt in the case of imposter syndrome is important to recognize and address, especially if it begins to affect your wellbeing and how you view yourself.

To add on, imposter syndrome is often associated with depression, anxiety, social dysfunction, low self-esteem and physical symptoms (Eldridge, 2026) which could affect the confidence and life choices of youths who are afflicted with it.

In the coming-of-age period, young adults are plunged into many new experiences such as internships, social groups and unfamiliar spaces. Therefore, it is especially important for this age group to understand and recognize imposter syndrome for what it is as well as learn how to process it in order to manage such feelings and give themselves due credit in relevant situations.

Common Challenges Related to Navigating Imposter Syndrome

Challenge 1: Not Letting Your Thoughts Spiral

Imposter syndrome can make one small doubtful thought grow into something much bigger, until it starts to feel overwhelming. For example, maybe you accidentally make a mistake with a task during an internship. This leads to seeds of doubt, and you begin wondering if you are even qualified to be there. In moments like this, it is important to recognize that one difficult experience does not necessarily reflect your overall ability. Before accepting a negative assumption of yourself, you could pause and reflect. What actually happened? What do I know is certain? Am I assuming anything about myself? Catching yourself early before the doubts start to spiral is helpful in creating a more accurate self-assessment.

Challenge 2: Knowing When to Listen to Your Self-Doubt

On some occasions, self-doubt may be helpful. For example, feeling unsure about your place in a new environment may encourage you to reach out to others and connect with people. Struggling with a new task during an internship could also signal to you what areas you need to focus on. The challenge here is knowing when self-doubt is appropriate and not unnecessarily harsh and impeding your judgement. Similarly, you may check in with yourself with some questions like: Is there something concrete I can improve on in this situation? Am I questioning myself and my abilities solely because of a mistake or an unfamiliar situation? These questions ideally help to ground you in getting useful information from your thoughts without letting it define your capabilities too quickly.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Youth

Tip 1: Pause and Label

It is helpful to catch doubtful thoughts before they become verdicts of ourselves. When such feelings show up, try recognizing and labelling them for what they are.

For example, instead of telling yourself, “I’m not good enough for this,” you could say, “I am having this thought, and this thought is that I’m not good enough for this”. Where the first one sounds like a fact, the second option sounds like something to process. Similarly, someone feeling anxious might say, “I am feeling anxious,” rather than, “I am anxious.”

Choosing to do this helps prevent temporary feelings from becoming permanent conclusions about what and who we are, while still allowing us to verbalize and acknowledge what we think.

Tip 2: What Would I Do If My Friend Told Me This?

Sometimes, we can be more kind to others than to ourselves.

Imagine if a friend told you that they felt like a fraud at where they were interning at. They might believe they were below the standard of many other people in the company and only got accepted because the company happened to need someone. Now as a friend, if you had known your friend for some time and knew they were a capable and reliable student who is trying their best, you would probably remind them of their capability and deservingness.

Likewise, we should try to treat ourselves as we would treat other people in a similar situation. It is good to remember that we are often chosen for opportunities because we are suitable for it. Furthermore, feeling out of place does not always mean you are out of place. Being less experienced is also not the same as being less deserving, and we are not meant to know everything.

Tip 3: Speak It Out with Someone

Having a third-person point of view with imposter feelings can be beneficial. If you find it difficult to view a situation from another angle on your own, you may consider talking to a friend, mentor or someone you trust. Another person may be able to help you discuss and see the situation more clearly.

Tip 4: Avoid Over-Comparing Yourself

A story in relation to this tip was my first time at the gym. It was rather nerve-racking because I went alone and was unfamiliar with both the environment and the exercises. I noticed that the other gym-goers looked confident and self-assured, which made me feel out of place and almost like an outlier. I was really worried during my first week at the gym. However, with routine and time, I gradually became more familiar with the exercises and comfortable in the environment. Likewise, an intern and someone who has worked in the field for years are not expected to have the same experience. Therefore, it is important to recognize the stage you are currently at and not be too hard on yourself by comparing your progress with someone who is further ahead.

Expert Insights

A sharing by Ms. Shilpa Jain:

With a degree in biomedical science and a graduate law degree, Ms Shilpa Jain may be seen as an accomplished person. Her friends and family were also proud of what she achieved. Despite this, she had experienced imposter syndrome. In an article by Channel News Asia Singapore, she shared that if she made a mistake, she would feel that it was because she “lacked the ability or was incompetent”. However, if she succeeded at something, she thought it was because she was lucky or that she was prepared much harder than everyone else. Due to the impact of what she was experiencing, Ms. Shilpa decided to turn to online counselling and found the sessions to be objective and useful in helping her to recognise and break unhelpful thought patterns. In 2021, upon a healing journey of five years, she shared that somedays, she may have some doubts but above all, she has become more self-aware and kinder to herself and has started to view her achievements as a journey rather than a destination.” (Gan, 2021).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome are self-doubting thoughts that you have only succeeded due to luck and external factors, and not because of your talent or qualifications. When experiencing imposter syndrome, individuals may invalidate and not be able to internalize their own successes (Abrams, 2018).

Why does Imposter Syndrome occur?

The causes of imposter syndrome are not very certain. Rather, imposter syndrome can be due to a wide range of factors such as socioeconomic factors, family, ethnicity, personality (Walker & Saklofske, 2023) and systemic discrimination (Imposter Syndrome, n.d.). In fact, simply being around other high achievers at an “elite institution” can also lead to imposter feelings (Abrams, 2018). Impostor feelings are often more prominent in transitional situations like during the first year of university (Walker & Saklofske, 2023).

How does navigating Imposter Syndrome work?

Navigating imposter syndrome can begin with checking your thoughts against evidence. You could also remind yourself to recognize your own contribution to your successes, set gentler standards and remember that you are still learning. If the pattern of self-doubt is persistent or affecting your daily life, speaking to a counsellor or mental-health professional can help you.

Why is it important to overcome Imposter Syndrome?

Overcoming imposter syndrome starts with learning to trust yourself and recognise that self-doubt doesn’t define your abilities. It helps you see how far you’ve come, give yourself credit for your strengths, and step into new opportunities, even when you don’t feel completely confident yet.

How can I get support with navigating Imposter Syndrome?

You can start by speaking to someone you trust, such as a friend, mentor or family member. Sometimes, simply having another person around can help you correct assumptions that are difficult to realize on your own. Additionally, you may also reach out to OTR Listens for no-pressure, simple, emotional support. Alternatively, you may choose to speak to a counsellor or mental-health professional.

Related Topics

• Imposter Syndrome in Singapore: Why Good Grades Don’t Always Build Confidence
• Why Young Adults in Singapore Struggle With Self-Doubt (Even When They Look Successful)
• Self-Doubt After Getting a New Job: Why It Happens and How to Overcome It (Singapore Guide)
• OTR Listens — talk to someone today

About OTR Listens

OTR Listens (Over The Rainbow) is a Singapore-based youth mental health organisation running Avie, a free, confidential, text-based chat service for young people. Whether you’re in a crisis or just carrying something you haven’t been able to say out loud yet, Avie is a space where you can talk at your own pace, without judgement.

OTR also runs OTR Academy, which provides wellbeing education and training for young people and the communities around them.

Our work is grounded in the belief that every young person deserves to be heard and that being heard is often where things begin to change.

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References

Abrams, A. (2018). Yes, Impostor Syndrome Is Real. Here’s How to Deal With It. TIME. https://time.com/5312483/how-to-deal-with-impostor-syndrome/

Cuncic, A. (2026). The Five Types of Imposter Syndrome and How to Manage Them. Verywellmind. https://www.verywellmind.com/imposter-syndrome-and-social-anxiety-disorder-4156469

Eldridge, S. (2026). Imposter Syndrome. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/imposter-syndrome

Gan, E. (2021). They’re well-educated and holding good jobs but feel like a fraud. Psychologists call it ‘imposter syndrome’. Channel News Asia. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/theyre-well-educated-and-holding-good-jobs-feel-fraud-psychologists-call-it-imposter-syndrome-4631451

Imposter Syndrome. (n.d.). Stanford Center for Teaching and Learning. https://ctl.stanford.edu/students/imposter-syndrome

Walker, D. L., & Saklofske, D. H. (2023). Development, Factor Structure, and Psychometric Validation of the Impostor Phenomenon Assessment: A Novel Assessment of Impostor Phenomenon. Assessment, 30(7), 2162-2183. https://doi.org/10.1177/10731911221141870