Microaggressions experienced by people with multiple sclerosis in the workplace: An exploratory study using Sue’s taxonomy.

Abstract

Purpose: Microaggressions are subtle forms of discrimination and include verbal, nonverbal, or environmental slights that convey disparaging messages to people based upon their group membership, such as disability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience of microaggressions in the workplace among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Method: This study used a community-based participatory research approach and qualitative design. Adults with MS (N ϭ 29) with current or recent work experience were recruited to participate in a focus group study. Eight focus groups were conducted and transcripts analyzed using qualitative content analysis to generate themes and subthemes. Study protocol, coding, and interpretations underwent a validity check by an external advisory group consisting of researchers in the field and individuals with MS. Results: Almost all of the participants in this study reported experiencing some form of microaggressions in their workplace. Several important themes emerged, including pathologizing, assumption of disability status, second-class, lack of awareness, social distance, and denial. This study also found that perceived stress was associated with microaggressions and that microaggression exacerbated the negative impact of uncertainty related to symptoms and job security. Participants also identified various coping strategies used to deal with microagressions, such as involvement in support groups and meditation. Implications: The themes that emerged from the focus groups further our understanding of microaggressions as a factor impacting the work experiences of people with MS. Findings have implications for rehabilitation practitioners and future research to promote work life, job retention, and well-being of people with MS. Impact and ImplicationsThis study is the first to directly examine the experience of microaggressions in the workplace among adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) and findings support the need for increased awareness of microaggressions, their negative impact, and social justice issues facing individuals with MS. Findings from this study indicated that most of the participants have experienced some types of microaggressions in their workplace, which were primarily attributed to others' lack of knowledge or misperceptions about MS and its varied symptom manifestation. Findings from this study suggest a multifaceted approach would be beneficial-namely, organizational-level strategies to promote inclusive and positive work climates in tandem with direct client interventions aimed at increasing self-advocacy skills and self-efficacy for identifying and navigating disability-related concerns in the workplace.

Disabled in Society - A Scoping Review on Persons Living with Multiple Sclerosis and Disability

“… 42 , 59 Negative attitudes from co-workers were described in several studies, such as being questioned due to the shifting character of the MS disease and experiencing social isolation at work, eg. 41 , 60 , 61 …”

“…Studies conducted by scholars from several fields were included in this scoping review, for example, social work, 61 nursing, 111 medicine, 112 rehabilitation, 113 and psychology. 60 The interdisciplinary research teams mostly consisted of scholars from medicine and health sciences. A substantial majority of the authors of the included articles were from fields related to medicine and health.…”

Health promotion to people with disabilities: case report from two University extension projects

“…The educators and students should pay attention to expressions and attitudes that could be microaggressions, defined as "subtle forms of discrimination and include verbal, nonverbal, or environmental slights that convey disparaging messages to people based upon their group membership, such as disability." (Lee, 2019). This concept was used initially for racial issues, extending to other minorities (Olkin, 2019).…”

Diversity and social justice in disability: The heart and soul of rehabilitation psychology.

“…Lee, Ditchman, Thomas, and Tsen (2019) use a community-based participatory research (CBPR) and qualitative design to examine experiences with workplace microaggressions among a sample of 29 people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Participants reported the commonness of microaggressions involving pathologizing MS, making assumptions about disability status, treating the person with MS as second-class, showing a lack of awareness, engaging in social distance, and denying disability.…”

“…(APA, 2003, p. 389) In line with an appreciation of diverse epistemologies, this special issue showcases how rehabilitation psychology can consider diverse modes of knowing and of knowledge generation beyond only those that the field is used to. Articles in this special issue include critical self-reflection based on one’s own identities and experiences in order to draw social justice implications (e.g., Andrews et al, 2019), as well as ethnographic (e.g., Feldner, 2019) and qualitative (e.g., Lee et al, 2019) designs. Multicultural researchers have argued in particular for the importance of qualitative research to collect rich and nuanced data from hard-to-recruit or unique populations (Ponterotto, 2010), and as a result, qualitative paradigms have extremely strong potential to generate knowledge about diverse disability populations, particularly through an intersectional lens.…”