Meeting abstract

https://doi.org/10.24869/spsih.2026.232

Associations of Parenting Styles, Narcissism, and Impostor Syndrome Among Medical and Humanities Students: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Quantitative Study With a Correlational Approach

Nada Gruja ; School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2A, 21000 Split, Croatia *
Mia Plenković ; School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2A, 21000 Split, Croatia
Dora Pejdo ; School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2A, 21000 Split, Croatia
Frane Franić ; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Tomislav Franić ; School of Medicine, University of Split, Šoltanska 2A, 21000 Split, Croatia; University Hospital of Split, Spinčićeva ul. 1, 21000 Split, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Parental rearing styles play an important role
in shaping an individual’s psychological development
and can have long-term effects on how
a person experiences themselves, their own
achievements, and their relationships with others.
Two psychological phenomena that are particularly
relevant to the student population are
impostor syndrome and narcissistic traits. Impostor
syndrome is characterized by a persistent
feeling of intellectual inadequacy and doubt in
one’s own abilities despite objective evidence of
success, while narcissistic traits include patterns of self-perception related to a sense of one’s own
importance, a need for recognition, and sensitivity
to evaluation by others. The aim of this doctoral
research is to examine the association between
perceived parental rearing styles and levels of
impostor syndrome and narcissistic traits among
students in biomedical and health sciences and
in the humanities and social sciences. Special
emphasis is placed on the dimensions of parental
emotional warmth, overprotection, and rejection,
and their relationship with these psychological
characteristics. The study will be conducted using
a cross-sectional, comparative quantitative
design with a correlational approach. Data will
be collected using standardized psychological
questionnaires and a sociodemographic questionnaire
among students from different fields of
study. In addition to examining the association of
parental rearing styles with impostor syndrome
and narcissistic traits, possible differences will
be analyzed with regard to field of study, gender,
age, and year of study. The results are expected to
contribute to a better understanding of the role
of the family environment in the development
of psychological patterns relevant to academic
functioning, mental health, and personality development
in young adults, and to provide a basis
for the development of preventive and counseling
programs targeting the student population.

Keywords

parental rearing styles; impostor syndrome; narcissism

Hrčak ID:

352618

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/352618

Publication date:

15.6.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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