Presenter
Molly Reid; Sabrina Rosario; Shannon Barre; Leslie Phothisarath
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2024
Abstract
According to research done by the Williams Institute, of the eight million LGBTQIA+ workers in the United States, nearly half of them have experienced unfair treatment at work at some point in their lives. The research presented was conducted to assess if there is a correlation between discrimination and depression and the impact on sexual and gender minorities’ (SGM) levels of self-compassion. SGMs include, but are not limited to, those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, transgender, and queer. Data collection was conducted between February and March of 2022 using a quantitative cross-sectional digital survey and distributed through 107 SGM specific Reddit threads. Participants answered questions regarding SGM-specific issues, including depression inventories, and other questions regarding experiences with workplace discrimination, and their perceived level of self-compassion. The sample size for this data collection was 1316 individuals aged 18+, who resided in the United States. Measured variables in this study included: age, education, income, gender, sex assigned at birth, partner status, race, ACES score, and overall healthcare avoidance. Data supported that there is a positive correlation between high levels of sex and gender-based workplace discrimination and higher levels of depression among SGMs. High levels of self-compassion have a negative correlation to the prevalence of depression due to sex and gender-based discrimination for SGMs in the workplace, showing the possible protective factor of self-compassion against depression. Efforts to raise awareness and acceptance to reduce microaggressions and discriminatory behaviors in the workplace is fundamental to the wellbeing of members in this community.
Faculty Mentor
Jonathan Mosko, Ph.D.
Academic Discipline
College of Arts & Sciences
Repository Citation
Reid, Molly; Rosario, Sabrina; Barre, Shannon; and Phothisarath, Leslie, "Workplace Discrimination and Depression in SGMs" (2024). Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium. 159.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/innov_symposium/159