Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12202/1513
Title: Perceived Discrimination and Psychological Distress among Pregnant Women in the Workplace and Academic Environment
Authors: Cukier, Yael
Keywords: Clinical psychology.
Theater history.
Issue Date: 2014
Publisher: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
Citation: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 76-06(E), Section: B.;Advisors: Charles Swencionis.
Abstract: Pregnancy discrimination in the workplace and academic environment is an issue that many women face today despite the current progressive social culture. Women face threats such as negative evaluations, interpersonal discrimination, possibility of lost promotions, and pressure to take short leaves after delivery. Additionally, discrimination has been found to cause psychological distress, and it is well-known that significant stress among pregnant women can have dire consequences such as premature birth and low birth weight. Given the fact that women comprise more than half of today's workforce, it is worthy to investigate more fully the phenomenon of pregnancy in the workplace, and the resultant psychological distress with which the woman is unfairly burdened. This project explored the frequency and degree of perceived discrimination among pregnant women in the workplace and academic environment as well as their coping styles and symptoms of psychological distress. A secondary aim of this project was to examine the degree to which pregnant women internalize biases. One hundred and forty two participants were included in this study. It was found that approximately one half of the sample experienced some form of discrimination based on pregnancy and that such discrimination, in certain aspects, correlated significantly with psychological distress. Women working in woman-friendly environments reported significantly less frequency of discrimination than did women working in non woman-friendly environments. Results of this study underscore the need to face the issue of pregnancy discrimination today and take steps towards reducing negative treatment women may face upon choosing to occupy multiple roles.
URI: https://ezproxy.yu.edu/login?url=http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqm&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3662305
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12202/1513
Appears in Collections:Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology: Doctoral Dissertations

Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.