The Impact of Multiple Marginalized Social Statuses: How Being a Sexual Minority, a Woman, or Living with Low Income Relates to Workers' Well-being

Abstract

Limited research explores the well-being of multiply marginalized workers. Aiming to illustrate the application of intersectionality-inspired analysis to the fields of management and occupational health, we examined how being a sexual minority (non-heterosexual), having low income, and identifying as a woman are associated with well-being outcomes (e.g., impaired performance, troublesome symptoms, positive mental health). A survey was completed by 331 Québec workers. We used regression analysis to examine individual, additive, and interactive relationships between marginalized statuses and outcomes. Having multiple marginalized statuses was associated with impaired performance, troublesome symptoms and less positive mental health. The most negative outcomes were reported by low-income gay or bisexual workers. Organizational policies and managers should consider intersecting identities to better support marginalized workers' well-being.