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Culture / Ethnicity / Race

It feels like I’m one step away from being exposed: A Qualitative Study Examining the Psychological Experience of First-Generation Professionals at Work

(PS5-A22) It Feels Like i’m One Step Away from Being Exposed: A Qualitative Study Examining the Psychological Experience of First-generation Professionals at Work

Friday, November 17, 2023
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM PST
Location: Regency Ballroom, Level 7
First-generation professionals (FGPs) face significant obstacles to career success and are at heightened risk for poor mental health outcomes due to being the first in their family to achieve a college degree and enter a white-collar profession. Despite existing research on the mental health needs of first-generation students, less is known about the vocational experiences of FGPs. We address this using Consensual Qualitative Research Methods-Modified (CQR-M) to assess the psychological experience of FGPs at work. Our sample consists of 132 (Mage = 30.4) self-identified FGPs recruited via Prolific (n = 122) and social media (n = 10). Of those, 39% (n = 51) identified as cisgender female, 52% (n = 69) as cisgender male, and 11% (n = 12) as another gender identity or preferred not to answer. Regarding racial/ethnic background, 46% (n = 60) identified as European or White, 14% (n = 19) as Asian, 11% (n = 14) as Latinx, 9% (n = 12) as Multiethnic or Biracial, 8% (n = 11) as African or Black, 2% (n = 3) as Middle Eastern, 0.8% (n = 1) Native American, and 0.8% (n = 1) preferred not to answer. Participants answered open-ended questions about vocational implications of the FGP identity, work-life balance, and imposter syndrome. Inductive content analysis of 122 written responses revealed both positive and negative experiences associated with the FGP identity, including lack of social capital (22%), pressure to succeed (19%), and a sense of not belonging (11%), as well as mention of family (42%), motivation to work hard (25%), feelings of pride (22%) and gratitude/humility (12%). Results also highlighted the sources of social support for FGPs, as participants reported seeking support from family (41%), friends (40%), spouses and/or significant others (24%), escapism (13%), physical exercise (12%), work (12%), and self (12%). Regarding imposter syndrome, responses revealed that this phenomenon is prevalent among FGPs as 33% of them mentioned perceived incompetency as part of their experience with imposter syndrome. FGPs described not feeling good enough, lacking experience, increased self-doubt and/or comparison to colleagues, feeling as though they are underserving of success, and/or that their accomplishments are attributable to fortune. Other themes included fear of failure (20%), inability to relate to colleagues (14%), and being new to a job (11%). Our study sheds light on the complex and multifaceted experiences associated with the FGP identity. Findings underscore the importance of recognizing the distinctive obstacles that FGPs encounter and the critical role of social support in facilitating their professional growth and overall well-being.