Psychosocial Determinants of Occupational Health Through the Lenses of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
Understanding the determinants of the occupational health of specific populations and their work-related vulnerabilities is important for developing more effective psychosocial interventions. The aims of this study were (1) to explore differences in occupational health between groups of men versus w...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| author | António Oliveira Iara Teixeira Felipe Alckmin-Carvalho Henrique Pereira |
| author_facet | António Oliveira Iara Teixeira Felipe Alckmin-Carvalho Henrique Pereira |
| author_sort | António Oliveira |
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| description | Understanding the determinants of the occupational health of specific populations and their work-related vulnerabilities is important for developing more effective psychosocial interventions. The aims of this study were (1) to explore differences in occupational health between groups of men versus women and heterosexual versus LGBTQIA+ individuals living in Portugal; (2) to assess whether belonging to LGBTQIA+ groups or being a woman predicts worse occupational health; and (3) to evaluate differences in absenteeism frequency and possible predictors based on sexual orientation and gender. This cross-sectional quantitative study involved 577 participants living and working in Portugal (mean age: 41.62 years, SD = 11.41). To assess occupational health, we used the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ III—Middle Version). Women and LGBTQIA+ individuals reported poorer occupational health compared to men and heterosexual individuals, although greater discrepancies were observed in LGBTQIA+ individuals, especially in mental health indicators. Gender and sexual orientation were found to have modest but statistically significant effects on occupational health. The absenteeism frequency was higher among women. Our data suggest improvements in terms of women’s occupational health in Portugal, but not gender equality, which indicates that there are still points to be improved. These findings also suggest the persistence of stigma related to sexual diversity and its effects on the occupational health of LGBTQIA+ and underscore the need for more inclusive workplace policies in Portugal. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8e0935b7b5e643edbb8f4e1175ede9fe |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-8e0935b7b5e643edbb8f4e1175ede9fe2025-08-20T03:12:14ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-02-0115223410.3390/bs15020234Psychosocial Determinants of Occupational Health Through the Lenses of Gender Identity and Sexual OrientationAntónio Oliveira0Iara Teixeira1Felipe Alckmin-Carvalho2Henrique Pereira3Department of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Pólo IV, 6200-209 Covilhã, PortugalDepartment of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Pólo IV, 6200-209 Covilhã, PortugalDepartment of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Pólo IV, 6200-209 Covilhã, PortugalDepartment of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Pólo IV, 6200-209 Covilhã, PortugalUnderstanding the determinants of the occupational health of specific populations and their work-related vulnerabilities is important for developing more effective psychosocial interventions. The aims of this study were (1) to explore differences in occupational health between groups of men versus women and heterosexual versus LGBTQIA+ individuals living in Portugal; (2) to assess whether belonging to LGBTQIA+ groups or being a woman predicts worse occupational health; and (3) to evaluate differences in absenteeism frequency and possible predictors based on sexual orientation and gender. This cross-sectional quantitative study involved 577 participants living and working in Portugal (mean age: 41.62 years, SD = 11.41). To assess occupational health, we used the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ III—Middle Version). Women and LGBTQIA+ individuals reported poorer occupational health compared to men and heterosexual individuals, although greater discrepancies were observed in LGBTQIA+ individuals, especially in mental health indicators. Gender and sexual orientation were found to have modest but statistically significant effects on occupational health. The absenteeism frequency was higher among women. Our data suggest improvements in terms of women’s occupational health in Portugal, but not gender equality, which indicates that there are still points to be improved. These findings also suggest the persistence of stigma related to sexual diversity and its effects on the occupational health of LGBTQIA+ and underscore the need for more inclusive workplace policies in Portugal.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/2/234occupational healthgender identitysexual orientationpsychosocial determinantshomonegativitysexual-related stigma |
| spellingShingle | António Oliveira Iara Teixeira Felipe Alckmin-Carvalho Henrique Pereira Psychosocial Determinants of Occupational Health Through the Lenses of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Behavioral Sciences occupational health gender identity sexual orientation psychosocial determinants homonegativity sexual-related stigma |
| title | Psychosocial Determinants of Occupational Health Through the Lenses of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation |
| title_full | Psychosocial Determinants of Occupational Health Through the Lenses of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation |
| title_fullStr | Psychosocial Determinants of Occupational Health Through the Lenses of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychosocial Determinants of Occupational Health Through the Lenses of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation |
| title_short | Psychosocial Determinants of Occupational Health Through the Lenses of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation |
| title_sort | psychosocial determinants of occupational health through the lenses of gender identity and sexual orientation |
| topic | occupational health gender identity sexual orientation psychosocial determinants homonegativity sexual-related stigma |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/2/234 |
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