Pregnancy and workplace accidents: The impact of stereotype threat

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of stereotype threat (ST), the fear of confirming negative assumptions about a group to which one belongs (Steele, C. M. [1997]. A threat in the air: How stereotypes shape intellectual identity and performance. American Psychologist, 52(6), 613–629), on the safety performance of pregnant workers. To avoid being stereotyped, pregnant employees may engage in concealing or supra-performance as coping strategies, which is predicted to jeopardise their safety. The strength and direction of the proposed causal relationships was tested using a rigorous longitudinal design with survey data from pregnant employees working in physically demanding jobs at three separate time points over two months (N 1 = 402; N 2 = 229; N 3 = 191). Latent growth curve modelling analysis indicated that ST is associated with greater use of concealment and supra-performance as coping strategies, as well as more experienced workplace accidents. Moreover, supra-performance appears to partially account for the relationship between ST and accidents. Scientifically, this study uniquely contributes to the literature by bridging two areas of research (stereotype threat and occupational safety) that have largely proceeded independently of each other. Given that pregnant workers represent a vulnerable and increasing sector of the workforce, it is critical to establish an empirical basis that can inform targeted and strategic interventions for improving the safety and health of pregnant employees.