Imposter syndrome and college students' drinking behaviors: The roles of negative affect and coping motivated alcohol use

Background and Objectives College students are known to frequently engage in alcohol consumption, and are at risk for developing dangerous drinking patterns (e.g., binge drinking). Since imposter syndrome occurs at high rates among undergraduate students, it is reasonable to assume that college students may experience its negative effects, such as anxiety and depression. Given the relation of anxiety and depression to worse drinking outcomes, imposter syndrome may also be related to greater drinking and related problems. Yet, this is the first known study to test whether imposter syndrome is related to drinking behaviors. Methods 376 (87% female) undergraduates recruited through our psychology department research participant pool with current (past 3‐month) alcohol use completed an online survey. Results Imposter syndrome was statistically significantly related to anxiety, depression, coping‐motivated drinking, peak estimated blood alcohol content (eBAC), drinking frequency, and alcohol‐related problems. Imposter syndrome, via the serial effects of depression and coping motives, was significantly indirectly related to eBAC, drinking frequency, and alcohol‐related problems. Similarly, via the serial effects of anxiety and coping motives, imposter syndrome was significantly indirectly related to eBAC, drinking frequency, and alcohol‐related problems. Discussion and Conclusions The results of this study can inform treatment and prevention efforts by suggesting that imposter syndrome may be an important yet thus far neglected target for interventions. Scientific Significance The present study provides novel insight by identifying that imposter syndrome is related to worse alcohol outcomes and that these relations occur via negative affect and coping‐motivated drinking.