%0 Journal Article %A Saad Alrayyes %A Umar F. Dar %A Musab Alrayes %A Ahmed Alghutayghit %A Nouf Alrayyes %T Burnout and imposter syndrome among Saudi young adults %B The strings in the puppet show of psychological morbidity %D 2020 %R 10.15537/smj.2020.2.24841 %J Saudi Medical Journal %P 189-194 %V 41 %N 2 %X Objectives: To determine the prevalence of imposter syndrome (IS) among Saudi adults and its association with burnout.Methods: Using non-probability convenience sampling, we carried out a cross-sectional analytical study among adults in Northern Saudi Arabia. Data collection toll was a self-administered questionnaire containing young imposter scale (YIS), Maslach burnout inventory (MBI) and depression, anxiety, and stress scale 21 (DASS 21). These 3 scales are valid and reliable measurement tools for measuring IS, burnout, and psychological morbidity.Results: In the study sample (n=384), imposterism was present among 222 adults (57.8%). Moderate and severe symptoms of depression were present in 217 (56.5%), symptoms of stress in 210 (54.7%), and symptoms of anxiety in 126 (32.8%). Burnout was measured in 3 domains of depersonalization, emotion exhaustion, and personal accomplishments. High degree of depersonalization was found in 221 (57.6%), higher emotional exhaustion in 246 (64.1%) while lower personal accomplishment was present in 126 (32.8%). We found statistical association between IS and gender (p<0.01), depression (p<0.001) stress (p<0.001) and all 3 domains of burnout (p<0.01). Imposter syndrome was not found associated with anxiety (p=0.97). Young imposter scale score was associated with all the 3 domains of burnout even after controlling for depression, anxiety, and stress.Conclusion: Imposter syndrome is frequent among Saudi adults and associated with all 3 burnout domains. Mental health domains like burnout, depression, stress, and anxiety were found associated with IS. %U https://smj.org.sa/content/smj/41/2/189.full.pdf