Disclosing Mental Health Concerns at Work Relationships Matter More than Policy

Abstract

Record ID: 84

Award(s): Excellence in Research Communication

Program Affiliation: McNair Scholars Program

Presentation Type: Poster

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between the climate for mental health in organizations and whether employees disclose their mental health concerns. We hypothesized that when employees perceive a positive mental health climate (as measured through organizational practices and policies, perceived organizational support, and psychological safety), they will be more likely to disclose. We also hypothesized that this relationship would be moderated by the strength of the relationship between employees and their supervisors (LMX) and whether they were members of a marginalized group. To test these hypotheses, we gathered survey data from 236 full- and part-time employees from across the U.S. We did not find a significant relationship between climate and disclosure. However, LMX is positively related to disclosure and demonstrates a significant interaction effect with perceived organizational support and psychological safety, such that when LMX is low, employees are more likely to disclose with support and safety are higher.  We also found that being a member of a marginalized group (race, sexual orientation) is inversely related to disclosure.