ACTIVE: Journal of Physical Education, Sport, Health and Recreation
Vol. 15 No. 2 (2026)

The Effect of Imposter Syndrome on Athletes’ Self-Confidence in Individual Sports

Bayu Rifqi Rela (Study Program of Sport Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport and Health Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia)
Komarudin Komarudin (Study Program of Sport Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport and Health Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia)
Mochamad Yamin Saputra (Study Program of Sport Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport and Health Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia)
Geraldi Novian (Study Program of Sport Physical Coaching, Faculty of Sport and Health Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia)
Salma Maharani Sopandi (Study Program of Sport Physical Coaching, Faculty of Sport and Health Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
22 May 2026

Abstract

In the world of sports, athletes often experience a psychological phenomenon known as impostor syndrome. Impostor syndrome is a phenomenon in which a person with a strong track record of achievements feels they have deceived others regarding their skills, doubts their own abilities, and believes that their success is due to external factors; this can negatively impact the athlete’s self-confidence. This study aims to examine the prevalence of the Impostor Syndrome phenomenon among individual athletes and to determine the impact of Impostor Syndrome on the self-confidence of individual athletes. A descriptive method with a quantitative approach was used in this study, which involved 24 individual athletes aged 18–25 years. The instruments used in the study consisted of two questionnaires: the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) and the Athlete Self-Confidence Questionnaire (ASQ), which were administered once to the sample. After the data were collected, data analysis was performed using the correlation test in SPSS Version 29. The results of the study indicate that impostor syndrome influences competitive self-confidence in individual athletes. Based on the results, it can be concluded that impostor syndrome has a significant effect on athletes’ self-confidence. The higher the level of impostor syndrome experienced by athletes, the lower their level of self-confidence and the higher their level of anxiety

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Journal Info

Abbrev

peshr

Publisher

Subject

Other

Description

Journal is a peer-reviewed, four-color, professional journal. Continuously published since 2012, Active serves as an authoritative, professional source for educators in physical education, sports, health, and recreation in all settings. It provides the information needed to assist students and ...