The Role of Sociocultural Factors on the Relationship Between (Un)Employment and Well-being of LatinX Emerging Adults During Covid-19

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and resulting recession have brought significant challenges for organizations and revealed deep-seated inequalities for employees of color. LatinX individuals in particular have experienced high rates of unemployment compared to their White and Black American counterparts and returned to work at a slower rate (BLS, 2020; 2021). As a result, organizational psychologists have been called to action to help understand the economic and psychological impacts of the recession on worker outcomes (e.g., unemployment, mental well-being). The objective of this collected papers dissertation is to a) take a culturally-humble and strength-based approach to examine how the emerging adult LatinX community’s well-being has been affected by sudden involuntary unemployment and job insecurity due to the global pandemic and b) understand the role of sociocultural factors (e.g., familism, gender ideologies, and ethnic identity) and resilience on the effects of these work stressors. Contemporary, accurate, and interpretable methods of data analysis informed by Hair and his colleagues were employed (Hair et al., 2017; Hair et al., 2019; Hair et al., 2020).

The first paper tested the moderating role of familism (e.g., familial obligation, familial support) and gender ideologies (e.g., Machismo, Caballerismo, and Marianismo), on the association between unemployment and health during the pandemic. Machismo and Caballerismo moderated the relationship, with higher traditional gender role beliefs acting as a protective factor for employed men and as a risk factor for involuntary unemployed men. 

The second paper implemented a longitudinal design to assess the protective role of ethnic identity and resilience on the relationship between job insecurity and well-being. Covid related job insecurity is related to lower levels of job satisfaction, and higher levels of anxiety and depression. Higher levels of individual resilience were related to lower levels of anxiety. Lastly, ethnic identity showed to exert its effects through the moderating role of resilience on the job insecurity and anxiety relationship. Taken together the findings from these studies will help inform policy and practice on how job loss and insecurity affect the working lives and well-being of those from marginalized communities and the need for culturally relevant development opportunities and interventions.

Major Professor: Dr. Asia Eaton