Longitudinal analysis of relations between negative bias of self-evaluation of competence and the imposture phenomenon among pupils
This three-year longitudinal study had three specific goals: 1) to verify the temporal stability of negative bias of self-evaluation of competence and the imposture phenomenon; 2) to examine, at each year of the study, the relations between the phenomena and 3) to examine if an enduring negative bias of self-evaluation of competence is related to the development of the imposture phenomenon. 454 students (10-11 years old at the outset of the study) filled out questionnaires about their perceived competence and the imposture phenomenon. Results indicated that the bias of self-evaluation of competence, the imposture phenomenon and their interrelations were moderately stable over time. Even after controlling the effect of the imposture phenomenon in the preceding year, the total of the scores of the bias of self-evaluation assessed in every year of the study remained linked to the imposture phenomenon in the current year. Maintaining a negative bias of self-evaluation over time seems to be a risk factor in the development of the imposture phenomenon.