Examining the psychology of working theory: Decent work among sexual minorities.

2017/03/23 by Richard P. Douglass, Brandon L. Velez, Sarah E. Conlin +2 · 108 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Developmental psychology #Gender Diversity and Inequality #Heterosexism #Lesbian #PsycINFO #Psychology #Retirement, Disability, and Employment #Sexual minority #Sexual orientation #Social psychology #Volition (linguistics) #Work-Family Balance Challenges

paper · doi:10.1037/cou0000212

published in Journal of Counseling Psychology 64(5), 550-559 (American Psychological Association)

openalex publication_date 2017/03/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25

Abstract

Research has found heterosexist discrimination negatively relates to vocational outcomes among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people, but no known study has examined how heterosexist discrimination relates to the attainment of decent work. Building from the Psychology of Working Theory, which proposes that specific forms of marginalization coupled with economic constraints limit a person's ability to secure decent work, the present study examined theoretically hypothesized pathways to decent work among a sample of employed sexual minority adults. Heterosexist discrimination and social class were examined as direct predictors of decent work, and indirect links were examined via work volition and career adaptability. Among our sample of 218 sexual minority people, structural equation modeling results suggested heterosexist discrimination and social class directly-and indirectly through work volition-predicted decent work. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Citations

• Intersectionality and research in psychology.
• Career Adapt-Abilities Scale: Construction, reliability, and measurement equivalence across 13 countries
• Making the invisible visible: Fear and disclosure of sexual orientation at work.
• The Psychology of Working Theory.
• Examining moderators of discrimination and subjective well-being among LGB individuals.

Cited by

• Conceptualising workplace loneliness: a qualitative investigation with UK workers
• Vocational Psychology: Expanding the Vision and Enhancing the Impact
• An Examination of the Psychology of Working Theory With Employed Asian American Women
• Decent work and taking charge: roles of prosocial motivation and proactive personality
• Examining Predictors and Outcomes of Decent Work Perception with Chinese Nursing College Students. [europepmc]
• The uncertain state of work in the U.S.: Profiles of decent work and precarious work. [europepmc]
• Examining Predictors and Outcomes of Decent Work among Korean Workers. [europepmc]
• Psychology of working counseling framework applied to a gender diverse restaurant worker during COVID-19. [europepmc]
• The psychological concept of social sustainability in the workplace from the perspective of sustainable goals: A systematic review. [europepmc]
• The paradoxical effects of social class on career adaptability: The role of intolerance of uncertainty. [europepmc]
• The associations of decent work with wellbeing and career capabilities: a meta-analysis. [europepmc]
• The dual influence path of decent work perception on employee innovative behavior. [europepmc]
• Purposeful Pathways: An Integrative Career Development Intervention for Vocational, Mental Health, and Substance Use Recovery. [europepmc]
• Conceptualising workplace loneliness: a qualitative investigation with UK workers. [europepmc]
• Profiles of economic constraints and marginalization among Korean working adults: differences in work and life outcomes. [europepmc]

Related

• Working in a majority context: A structural model of heterosexism as minority stress in the workplace.
• Sexuality-Free Careers? Sexual Minority Young Adults’ Perceived Lack of Labor Market Disadvantages
• LG work experience
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• The Psychology of Working Theory.