College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

Summer 8-24-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

First Advisor

Shelly Rauvola, PhD

Second Advisor

Verena Graupmann, PhD

Abstract

Internalized racism is seldom studied in a workplace context. Extant literature demonstrates its deleterious effects on individuals, but little is known about the mechanisms that affect it in adulthood or how it operates in an organizational context. Using a multi-wave survey design, this study examined the racial composition of one’s coworkers and organizational inclusion climate as potential antecedents of internalized racism and psychological well-being and identity management behaviors as outcomes. Results suggest that organizational inclusion climate significantly affects racial/ethnic minority employees’ levels of internalized racism and subsequent well-being. Additionally, internalized racism predicted engagement in identity concealment behaviors. This suggests the importance of fostering and maintaining a work environment that is inclusive of all employees. Implications for popular I-O and social psychology theories are discussed.

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