Date of Award

4-2006

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. James M. Croteau

Second Advisor

Dr. Mary Z. Anderson

Third Advisor

Dr. Allison J. Kelaher Young

Abstract

Two advancements in the study of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals’ workplace sexual identity management, the Workplace Sexual Identity Management Measure (WSIMM) and the Workplace Sexual Identity Management (WSIM) social cognitive model of identity management are incorporated in the current study of LGB K-12 teachers’ workplace sexual identity management strategies. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties o f a revised version the WSIMM, investigate the workplace sexual identity management strategies of LGB teachers, and gain further understanding of the complex process LGB individuals navigate related to managing their sexual identity at work by exploring the role of perceived barriers and coping-efficacy in their decision-making process.

The results indicated that the WSIMM-R is useful in assessing identity management strategies and identified problematic items and scales. In examining the relation between various personal and career variables and the identity management strategies used, the school district type (i.e., rural, suburban, urban) in which participants taught was related to differences in the sexual identity management strategies they reported using. A difference in participants’ perception of barriers was found related to whether the other LGB teachers they knew taught within their same building or other school districts. Also, participants who reported primarily using covering strategies endorsed lower levels o f coping efficacy, while those who reported primarily using explicitly out strategies endorsed higher level of coping efficacy. A full discussion of the results is presented, as well as implications and directions for future research.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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