Initial construction and validation of the Racialized Impostor Phenomenon Scale

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Racial Studies

Background:

• Impostor phenomenon is a recognized psychological experience.
• Existing measures may not fully capture the unique experiences of Black individuals.
• Racial oppression and inequity contribute to intellectual and professional self-doubt.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Racialized Impostor Phenomenon Scale (RIPS).
• To assess persistent beliefs, actions, and feelings of self-doubt among Black individuals.
• To account for the impact of racial oppression and inequity on impostor cognitions.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on samples of 398 and 364 Black individuals, respectively.
• Measurement invariance was assessed across Black men and women.
• Construct validity was examined through associations with related psychological constructs.

Main Results:

• A three-factor solution emerged: internalized racial doubt, racialized burden to prove, and externalized racial doubt.
• The three-factor model demonstrated an excellent fit with the data.
• The RIPS showed similar measurement across genders and significant associations with impostor phenomenon, racism experiences, mental health, and self-esteem.

Conclusions:

• The Racialized Impostor Phenomenon Scale (RIPS) provides initial evidence of reliability and validity.
• The RIPS is a culturally relevant instrument for assessing racialized impostor cognitions.
• The scale can be used to understand the psychological impact of systemic racism on Black individuals.