Childhood Trauma and Impostor Syndrome among Nigerian Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Impostor syndrome has emerged as a significant psychological concern among university students globally, yet limited empirical research has examined its developmental antecedents within African contexts. This study examined the relationship between childhood trauma and impostor syndrome among undergraduate students at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. It also investigated whether gender moderates the relationship between sexual abuse and impostor syndrome. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 401 undergraduates aged 16–33 years through online administration of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form (CTQ-SF) and the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS).
Multiple regression and moderation analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Among the predictor variables, emotional abuse emerged as the only significant independent predictor of impostor syndrome (? = .40, p < .001). This finding suggests that emotional abuse contributed uniquely to impostor experiences even after controlling for other dimensions of childhood trauma. Physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect did not independently predict impostor syndrome within the regression model. However, gender did not significantly moderate the relationship between sexual abuse and impostor syndrome. Findings highlights the need for trauma-informed mental health interventions, culturally sensitive counselling services, and institutional support systems within the Nigerian university system.