First Advisor

Jason Randall

Term of Graduation

Summer 2025

Date of Publication

9-5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology

Department

Psychology

Language

English

Subjects

Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Physical Description

1 online resource (v, 126 pages)

Abstract

Black fathers (BFs) face unique workplace challenges due to racialized and gendered stereotypes that undermine their legitimacy as men, workers, and parents. Drawing on Stereotype Threat Theory (STT) and Stereotype Embodiment Theory (SET), this study examined how workplace-induced stereotype threat (WIST) affects BFs' job attitudes and turnover intentions (TIs). I hypothesized that BFs would report higher WIST than White fathers (WFs), and that WIST would mediate the effects of race-related perceptions on job satisfaction (JS), sense of belonging (SOB), and TIs. In addition, perceived organizational support (POS) was tested as a moderator on the relationships between WIST and these job-related outcomes. Participants included 𝑁 = 244 employed BFs (𝑛 = 145) and WFs (𝑛 = 69) recruited online through advertisements shared by organizations that serve fathers or the Black community. Hypotheses were tested using a path analysis in RStudio. As predicted, BFs reported significantly higher WIST than WFs, along with greater TIs, lower SOB, and marginally lower JS. Indirect effects of race on outcomes through WIST were small and marginally significant for TIs and SOB, but not for job JS. POS strongly predicted higher JS and SOB, and lower TIs, but did not moderate the effects of WIST on these outcomes, as predicted. This study identifies WIST as a chronic psychological stressor that disproportionately affects BFs, driving heightened identity-based vigilance and greater intent to leave than WFs. Although POS improved outcomes overall, it did not buffer the negative effects of WIST for BFs. Findings suggest WIST may, in part, contribute to BFs' lower labor force participation, highlighting the need for targeted interventions that expand current forms of organizational support.

Rights

Β©2025 Frances E.K. Hampton

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44160

Available for download on Saturday, September 05, 2026

Included in

Psychology Commons

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