Date of Award
5-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Committee Chair/Advisor
Mary Anne Taylor
Committee Member
Patrick Rosopa
Committee Member
Robin Kowalski
Abstract
A common workplace problem, particularly for women and other minorities, is workplace ostracism and a lack of inclusion into social and professional networks. There are many negative effects of workplace ostracism including decreased job satisfaction and productivity and increased turnover intentions. Conversely, inclusion is associated with positive interpersonal, psychological, and work-related outcomes for individuals. Given the importance of ostracism and inclusion, understanding predictors of these variables may aid the design of successful, supportive organizational interventions to create a positive environment for employees. Based on the literature, it seemed that ostracism and inclusion would be impacted by feelings of institutional, supervisor, peer, and mentor support as well as work mattering. In the review, the position taken was that the most personal sources of support, mentoring and peer support, would be more powerful predictors of ostracism and inclusion than supervisor and organizational support. In addition, the possibility that there would be differences in the predictors of workplace ostracism and inclusion related to gender was explored. Specifically, it was hypothesized that the relationship between all four forms of support and the outcomes of inclusion and ostracism would be stronger for women than for men. A sample of 107 participants completed an online survey. Support was found for the importance of more personal forms of support for inclusion, but not ostracism. Support was also found for the importance of work mattering for both ostracism and inclusion. The only gender moderation supported was for the relationship between peer support and ostracism.
Recommended Citation
Boucher, Erica, "The Role of Peer, Supervisor, Mentor, and Organizational Support on Workplace Ostracism and Inclusion" (2023). All Theses. 4080.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4080