By combining data from over 100 studies, researchers from California State University, Fresno, found a clear trend: women consistently score higher on measures of imposter syndrome.

The concept, initially termed “imposter phenomenon” by psychologists Clance and Imes in 1978, describes the feelings of fraudulence experienced by highly successful people – who also often attribute their achievements to luck or external factors rather than their abilities. Clance and Imes also originally suggested that women are more likely to experience this phenomenon due to societal stereotypes about gender and intelligence. However, subsequent research has produced mixed results, with some studies finding significant gender differences and others finding none.

But despite this, the new data shines a much-needed light on the distinctly gendered experience of imposter syndrome. “When we combined the results of over 100 studies that compared levels of imposter phenomenon between women and men, there is clearly a difference with women tending to score higher on average,” study author Paul C Price, a professor of psychology, explained. “The difference is what psychologists might refer to as small to medium, but it is very consistent and similar in magnitude to gender differences in related variables like self-esteem and narcissism.”

Women experience imposter syndrome more frequently and intensely, according to research