Social ostracism is a phenomenon where an individual is intentionally ignored, excluded from social activities or denied acceptance into a group due to some characteristic, behavior, belief, action or trait. In recent years, there has been increased research into how social ostracism affects individuals' mental health and cognitive abilities. This study will focus specifically on how this phenomenon can impact the mental health and operational performance of LGBT personnel.
LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people. These are individuals who identify themselves outside of their assigned gender or sexual orientation. They face various forms of discrimination both socially and professionally due to their nonconformity to traditional norms. The study explores the consequences of social ostracism on these people, especially in workplaces. The following paper explains how it affects them mentally, emotionally, and psychologically and how it reduces their productivity.
The primary purpose of the study is to examine how social ostracism influences the mental health and performance of LGBT employees in their workplace settings. The study also explores the factors that lead to this kind of exclusion, the effects of exclusion, and ways of reducing the adverse outcomes. It further looks at how this phenomenon causes depression among LGBT workers.
This study uses a quantitative approach with a sample size of one hundred LGBT employees working in different companies. These employees were drawn from diverse industries such as finance, manufacturing, hospitality, retail, education, entertainment, marketing, media, technology, agriculture, mining, energy, and construction. Participants provided demographic information before completing questionnaires that assessed the frequency of social ostracism they faced at work. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 23.0. A descriptive analysis method was used to present findings in percentages, means, standard deviations, and frequencies.
How does social ostracism impact mental health?
Social isolation and exclusion are significant contributors to poor mental health. Individuals who face social rejection often develop anxiety disorders because of the constant fear of being rejected. Social exclusion leads to feelings of insecurity, low self-esteem, and loneliness. Members of the LGBT community have reported experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions due to their sexual orientation or gender identity (Olson & Kreppie, 2018). When individuals do not belong socially, it affects their cognitive abilities and can lead to reduced productivity. Employees who experience social isolation may be absent from work for long periods due to feeling uncomfortable about themselves. The phenomenon causes increased cortisol production, which makes them agitated, making them less productive at work. Highly stressed people tend to be less creative than those with a relaxed mindset. Depressed workers are more likely to make mistakes or lose concentration. They are also prone to poor decision-making and take longer to complete tasks.
How does social ostracism impact operational performance?
The study reveals that LGBT personnel perform worse when they feel left out or ostracized in the workplace. Such employees are less committed to their jobs and lack motivation to meet targets. They are less engaged in teamwork activities and tend to be pessimistic and unhappy at work. Their negative attitude reduces innovativeness and creativity at work. Workers who feel isolated cannot concentrate on their job role effectively since they constantly worry about being mistreated by colleagues or management. Some LGBT employees suffer from severe anxiety disorders leading to panic attacks and other mental health issues that reduce their ability to function normally. This leads to missed deadlines, absenteeism, and frequent turnover. Social exclusion has a direct effect on operational performance because an individual's mood is directly linked to his/her productivity (Sinclair & Mathews, 2017).
Some individuals become irritable and may have conflicts with colleagues or managers, reducing their ability to focus on delivering quality services. In contrast, the phenomenon increases absenteeism due to depression-related illnesses such as chronic back pain, headaches, and migraines. LGBT workers' feelings of loneliness also lead them to spend fewer hours at work or miss appointments altogether, thus affecting operations negatively.
Social ostracism can cause significant psychological distress among members of the LGBT community. It impacts their mental health adversely, making them anxious and depressed. The study recommends creating a conducive working environment where all employees feel valued regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Companies should offer training programs for managers and supervisors to help them understand the challenges facing their LGBT counterparts. The companies should invest in diversity and inclusion strategies to avoid discrimination against these employees. They should provide safe spaces for members of this group to express themselves without fear of being judged.
Managers should implement policies that encourage social interaction among employees from different backgrounds by organizing outings, team building activities, and group projects.
How does social ostracism impact mental health and operational performance of LGBT personnel?
Social ostracism can negatively affect the mental health and operational performance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) personnel through several mechanisms. Firstly, discrimination and exclusion from peer groups due to sexual orientation may lead to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and low self-esteem, which are known risk factors for depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental health problems.