“I’m paralyzed by worry that they’ll think I’m a fake” investigating the impostor phenomenon in allyship, and links to mental health and work outcomes

Sustained allyship requires complex and challenging work, often in hostile environments. We propose that these characteristics can induce feelings of impostorism among allies. Our purpose was to examine the prevalence of impostorism and test links with allies’ mental health and workplace functioning. Quantitative survey data from two samples (N = 778) and (N = 973) were used, latent profile analyses were conducted, and links between profile membership and mental health and workplace outcomes were examined. Results indicated that “Competent Ally Impostors” had higher depressive symptoms and anxiety than “Confident Allies”, suggesting that this subgroup may be impeded by impostorism, and their mental health may suffer. Conversely, “Disengaged Individuals” and “Average Allies” reported less psychological safety, work efficacy, and job satisfaction than “Confident Allies” and “Competent Ally Impostors” suggesting that allyship competencies - not impostorism - may drive psychological safety, work efficacy, and job satisfaction. This paper is among the first to examine the role of impostor phenomenon among allies, and its effects on allies’ mental health and workplace outcomes. Consequently, it carries implications for impostorism posing as a barrier to sustained allyship in organizations.