Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Perceived Social Support as a Correlate of Imposter Phenomenon — An Exploratory Study

Why It Matters

The research demonstrates that enhancing social support can substantially reduce imposter feelings, improving mental health outcomes and workplace productivity for male CSA survivors. It provides evidence for organizations and clinicians to prioritize trauma‑informed support networks.

Key Takeaways

• Imposter scores inversely correlate with perceived social support (r = –.567).
• Significant others provide strongest protective effect (r = –.609).
• Social support explains ~33% of imposter phenomenon variance.
• Friends and family also reduce imposter feelings, albeit less.
• Study highlights need for targeted support for male CSA survivors.

Pulse Analysis

The imposter phenomenon—persistent self‑doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud—has long been studied among high‑achieving professionals, yet its intersection with childhood sexual abuse (CSA) remains under‑explored. A new exploratory study from Delhi NCR surveyed 85 male CSA survivors aged 20‑35, measuring perceived social support and imposter scores. The findings reveal a robust negative correlation (r = –.567) between overall support and imposter feelings, confirming that the more support these men perceive, the less likely they are to experience chronic self‑deception. These insights also inform HR strategies aimed at fostering inclusive cultures where survivors can thrive.

Disaggregating the support network shows that significant others exert the strongest protective effect (r = –.609), followed by friends (r = –.490) and family (r = –.426). Regression models attribute roughly one‑third of the variance in imposter scores to perceived support, underscoring its therapeutic weight. For mental‑health practitioners and corporate wellness programs, these metrics translate into actionable levers: mentorship, peer‑coaching, and family‑informed counseling can directly attenuate impostor feelings, boosting confidence, productivity, and retention among employees who have endured trauma.

Beyond individual therapy, the study calls for systemic change. Organizations should embed trauma‑informed policies that normalize seeking support, while policymakers can fund community‑based programs that strengthen peer and family networks for male survivors. Although limited by a modest sample and cross‑sectional design, the research provides a data‑driven foundation for scaling interventions that reduce imposter syndrome—a known driver of burnout and turnover. Future longitudinal work across diverse regions will refine the causal pathways, but the current evidence already signals a clear business case for investing in social‑support infrastructure.