OCCUPATION AND HEALTH ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (15): 2110-2115.

• Treatise—Epidemiology and Preventive Health Care • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Chain mediating effect of psychological capital and career success on the relationship between the work environment of junior nurses and imposter phenomenon

ZHANG Xiumei1,2, ZHANG Na1, CHEN Yang1, LI Qing1, WANG Jingjing1, GAO Jing1()   

  1. 1 Baoding First Central HospitalBaodingHebei 071000, China
    2 School of NursingHebei University,BaodingHebei 071000, China
  • Received:2025-09-30 Revised:2025-11-03 Online:2026-08-01 Published:2026-07-16
  • Contact: GAO Jing
  • About author:GAO Jing,E-mail:472108874@qq.com

Abstract:

Objective To explore the mechanism of psychological capital and career success on the relationship between the work environment of junior nurses and imposter phenomenon,in order to provide reference for the management and intervention of junior nurses. Methods From August to September 2024,a convenience sampling method was used to select junior nurses from Baoding First Central Hospital as the research subjects. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a general information questionnaire,the Chinese version of the Clance impostor phenomenon scale,psychological capital scale,nursing practice environment scale,and the nurse career success scale. SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 26.0 software were used for statistical analysis. Results The overall average score of impostor phenomenon of 257 junior nurses was (50.24±14.01)points,the overall average score of career success was (40.04±8.67)points,the overall average score of psychological capital was (92.19±17.83)points,and the overall average score of work environment was (101.13±22.91)points. Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the scores of work environment,psychological capital,career success,and impostor phenomenon among junior nurses with different education level,marital status,position,salary,enthusiasm for nursing(all P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that work environment of junior nurses was positively correlated with psychological capital and career success(r=0.825, 0.714,both P<0.01),and psychological capital was positively correlated with career success(r=0.760,P<0.01). Impostor phenomenon was negatively correlated with work environment,psychological capital,and career success(r=-0.361,-0.373,-0.364,all P<0.01). Structural equation modeling indicated that psychological capital partially mediated the relationship between work environment and impostor phenomenon,with an effect value of 0.098,accounting for 15.53% of the total effect. Career success also played a partial mediating role,with an effect value of 0.114,accounting for 18.07% of the total effect. Psychological capital and career success played a mediating role in the relationship between the working environment of junior nurses and imposter phenomenon,with an effect value of 0.037,accounting for 5.86% of the total effect. Conclusion The imposter phenomenon of junior nurses is at a moderately high level,and psychological capital and career success play a mediating role between work environment and imposter phenomenon. Hospital administrators and nursing educators should provide targeted support to junior nurses to reduce impostor phenomenon and promote their professional development and psychological well-being.

Key words: Work environment, Psychological capital, Career success, Mediation effect, Imposter phenomenon

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