Effects of Institutional Inclusivity Policies on LGBTQ+ Healthcare Professionals and Trainees in the United States

• In Event: Gender, Sexuality, and Health

Abstract

Healthcare professionals and trainees (students, residents, interns, and post-doctoral fellows) report high levels of burnout, mental distress, and physical harm related to their work. Sexual and gender minorities are disproportionately exposed to chronic stressors throughout the life course with harmful health consequences. These consequences may compound in healthcare professionals who are members of sexual and gender minority communities. This paper assesses the effect of institutional inclusivity policies and practices on stress within healthcare professionals and trainees in the United States by sexual orientation data from the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Professional and Trainee Wellbeing survey conducted in 2023 (N=886) using mixed methods. Results from OLS regressions indicated that institutional inclusivity practices and policies are protective against identity-related stress in the workplace and educational settings for lesbian and gay healthcare professionals and trainees. Quantitative and qualitative results indicate professional consequences related to LGBTQ+ identity-based stress are driven by LGBTQ+ status, involvement in LGBTQ+ workplace groups, and inclusiveness of the institutional climate. Qualitative responses indicate transgender healthcare professionals experience additional stress in the workplace due to involvement in LGBTQ+ workplace groups. These findings suggest that although workplace inclusivity practices are vital for addressing the added stress experienced by LGBTQ+ healthcare professionals and trainees in the workplace, institutions must make efforts to transfer the burden of equity initiatives from transgender professionals and trainees.

Author

• Atticus M. Wolfe, Agnes Scott College