ARE STIGMA AND OUTNESS ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENCES IN WORKPLACE STRESS BETWEEN SEXUAL MINORITY COLLEGE UNDERGRADUATES AND THEIR HETEROSEXUAL PEERS?

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Megan Anne Moomaw (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: This study is aimed at finding the differences in workplace stress between heterosexual and sexual minority undergraduate students in North Carolina Universities. The relationship between workplace stress, outness, and stigma consciousness due to sexual orientation, will be examined through analysis of survey results distributed to undergraduates. Due to the financial burden of a college education, around 80% of college undergraduates have a job during college (Carnevale, Smith, Melton, & Price, 2015). This situation is unique when considering sexual minority students. Employment could be harder to navigate as a sexual minority student due to complicated decisions such as whether or not to be out in the workplace, choosing to actively hide one"s orientation, and managing the possibility of harassment or discrimination. These factors could lead to sexual minority students having higher levels of workplace stress. The effects of outness and stigma consciousness on workplace stress will be examined to create a detailed approach to sexual minority experiences. High workplace stress has negative side effects on both physical and mental health (Colligan & Higgins, 2006). Data will be collected through a survey given to undergraduates in North Carolina. The survey will include the Maugeri Stress Index reduced form (Massidda, D., Giorgi, I., Vidotto, G., Tringali, S., Imbriani, M., Baiardi, P., & Bertolotti, G., 2017), the Nebraska Outness Scale (Meidlinger & Hope, 2014), and the Stigma Consciousness Questionnaire (Pinel, 1999). A short answer question will be given to obtain qualitative data. This study fills important gaps in past research by examining this population and their experience"s in the workplace.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2020

Keywords

sexual minority, workplace stress, outness, stigma consciousness

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