Varied Knowledge Journal
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): Varied Knowledge Journal, August 2026 - In Press

Impostor Syndrome as Viewed Through the Lens of Self-Efficacy and Social Comparison Among University Graduates in Indonesia

Yuliyanti Setivani (Program Studi Psikologi, Universitas Muria Kudus, Kudus, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia)
Rr Dwi Astuti (Program Studi Psikologi, Universitas Muria Kudus, Kudus, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between self-efficacy and social comparison with impostor syndrome among Indonesian fresh graduates. Impostor syndrome has become increasingly prevalent during the transition from higher education to the workforce, as graduates often experience self-doubt, fear of being perceived as incompetent, and difficulty recognizing their achievements. A quantitative correlational design was employed involving 305 Indonesian fresh graduates who had graduated within the previous two years and were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using scales measuring impostor syndrome, self-efficacy, and social comparison. The data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis and Pearson product-moment correlation. The findings indicated a significant simultaneous relationship between self-efficacy and social comparison with impostor syndrome (R = 0.660; R² = 0.435; p < 0.001). Self-efficacy was negatively associated with impostor syndrome, whereas social comparison was positively associated with impostor syndrome. The results suggested that individuals with higher self-efficacy tended to experience lower levels of impostor syndrome, while those who engaged more frequently in social comparison tended to experience higher levels of impostor syndrome. These findings highlighted the importance of strengthening self-efficacy and managing social comparison during the transition from university to professional life.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

vkj

Publisher

Subject

Religion Arts Humanities Computer Science & IT Economics, Econometrics & Finance Education Engineering Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Medicine & Pharmacology Social Sciences

Description

Varied Knowledge Journal (VKJ) is a multidisciplinary journal publish 4 issues a year with online version of E-ISSN 3026-5371 and can be accessed openly. This journal is a peer reviewed, open access, scientific and scholarly journal which publishes research papers, review papers, case reports, case ...