Date of Award

6-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Reader/Committee Chair

Dr. Mark Agars

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to utilize the Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) Work Model of Stress to measure how perceptions of the work climate influence employees with chronic illnesses fears of future stigma and their subsequent psychological health and work attitudes. As workers with chronic illnesses have reported being stigmatized in the workplace and have a high turnover rate, it was important to consider the psychosocial aspects of the work environment in relation to their perceptions of stigma and consequent outcomes. Psychosocial safety climate refers to the policies, practices, and procedures for employee psychosocial well-being. Prior research has confirmed PSC negatively influences job demands and positively influences job resources, thus improving workers’ mental health and attitudes towards work. Anticipated stigma refers to the fear of future prejudice, stigma, and discrimination, and has exhibited a negative relationship to psychological health and work motivation. Research has predominately focused on the effects of psychosocial risks at the individual level and has neglected to consider contextual factors in the work stress process, therefore our study addressed this gap. Research on the experiences of workers with chronic illnesses is also limited. Data collection was cross-sectional and sampled from employees self-identified as having one or more chronic disease. Results confirmed PSC is a significant predictor of anticipated stigma, and that anticipated stigma is a mediating factor in the relationship between PSC and the criterion.

Download

Share

COinS