Date of Award

6-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Reader/Committee Chair

Diaz, Ismael

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ+) employees experience unique stress in the workplace due to their stigmatized concealable identity. This unique stress results in poor health outcomes, such as not feeling safe at work, decreased satisfaction with life, and increased emotional exhaustion. Research and theory have identified the importance of felt inclusion among employees. The purpose of this study was to test a model of how the intangible aspects of work (i.e., organizational efforts towards LGBQ+ inclusion, supervisor LGBQ+ inclusion, and felt inclusion) impact LGBQ+ employee job attitudes, health and well-being, and sexual identity management strategies. Additionally, two measures were created to measure organizational efforts towards LGBQ+ inclusion and felt inclusion. An online survey was distributed to LGBQ+ adults employed in the United States (N = 349). A path analysis conducted in LISREL showed that the hypothesized model was partially supported. Felt inclusion was shown to be the strongest and most important predictor of employee job attitudes, health and well-being, and sexual identity management behaviors. Additionally, supervisor inclusion had a direct and positive effect on felt inclusion. Lastly, organizational efforts were shown to positively predict supervisor inclusion directly, and positively predict felt inclusion indirectly. Furthermore, regression analyses showed that the newly created measure of felt inclusion was shown to be a stronger, yet unique predictor, of psychological safety compared to the widely used Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Climate Inventory (LGBTCI). These results provide support of measuring felt inclusion, rather than LGBT-supportive climate. This project also highlights the importance of measuring organizational efforts, supervisor inclusion, and felt inclusion when making decisions related to LGBQ+ inclusion. Additional theoretical and practical implications are discussed, as well as directions for future research.

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