Unraveling the Pressure to Excel: Exploring the Links between Perfectionism, Impostor Syndrome, Hope, and Anxiety in Young Adults

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Aastha Sharma and Milli Tewari (Department of Applied Psychology, University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi)

This study explored the relationships between perfectionism, imposter syndrome, hope, and anxiety among young adults, particularly in the context of societal and academic pressures in India. The objectives were to examine the relationship between hope and trait anxiety and to investigate the association between perfectionistic thoughts and imposter syndrome. Seventy-four college students (ages 18-25) from the Delhi-NCR region participated in the study. The Herth Hope Index (HHI), Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory (PCI), and Trait-Anxiety Scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used to assess participants. Statistical analyses, including correlation and multiple linear regression, were conducted to test the hypotheses. The findings showed a significant negative correlation between hope and anxiety (r = -0.387, p < .001), suggesting that higher hope levels reduce anxiety. Perfectionistic thoughts were shown to have a moderately positive correlation with anxiety (r = 0.330, p =.004) and a substantial positive correlation with impostor syndrome (r = 0.493, p <.001). Imposter syndrome emerged as the strongest predictor of anxiety (B = 0.374, p < .001), while perfectionistic thoughts had an indirect effect on anxiety through imposterism. These findings highlight the critical role of hope in reducing anxiety and identified imposter syndrome as a key psychological factor contributing to anxiety in young adults. These findings emphasized the need for interventions targeting imposter syndrome and fostering hope to promote mental well-being.