Workplace Contextual Supports for LGBT Employees: A Review, Meta‐Analysis, and Agenda for future Research

The past decade has witnessed a rise in the visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. This has resulted in some organizational researchers focusing their attention on workplace issues facing LGBT employees. While empirical research has been appropriately focused on examining the impact of workplace factors on the work lives of LGBT individuals, no research has examined these empirical relationships cumulatively. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive review and meta‐analysis of the outcomes associated with three workplace contextual supports (formal LGBT policies and practices, LGBT‐supportive climate, and supportive workplace relationships) and to compare the relative influence of these workplace supports on outcomes. Outcomes were grouped into four categories: (a) work attitudes, (b) psychological strain, (c) disclosure, and (d) perceived discrimination. Results show that supportive workplace relationships were more strongly related to work attitudes and strain, whereas LGBT supportive climate was more strongly related to disclosure and perceived discrimination compared to the other supports. Our findings also revealed a number of insights concerning the measurement, research design, and sample characteristics of the studies in the present review. Based on these results, we offer an agenda for future research

Making career decisions in a changing graduate labour market: A Hospitality perspective

The study seeks to understand how prospective hospitality graduates tackle the career decision-making task. In-depth interviews were conducted with 28 undergraduate hospitality students in the UK. The findings highlight the challenging nature of career decisions within the context of a changing graduate labour market. The adoption of a qualitative method, coupled with career decision-making theory has resulted in a study that gives a voice to the key participants in the education-to-work transition, the students themselves. These insights will enable higher education, policy makers and employers to assist students in their quest for employment

A relational analysis of an invisible illness: A meta-ethnography of people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis and their support needs

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is indicated by prolonged, medically unexplained fatigue (amongst other symptoms), not alleviated by rest, and causing substantial disability. There are limited treatments on offer, which may not be effective and/or acceptable for all people, and treatment views are polarised. We, thus, aimed to take a step back from this debate, to explore more broadly preferences for formal and informal support among people with CFS/ME. We used a meta-ethnography approach to examine the substantial qualitative literature available. Using the process outlined by Noblit and Hare, and guided by patient involvement throughout, 47 studies were analysed. Our synthesis suggested that to understand people with CFS/ME (such as their invisibility, loss of self, and fraught clinical encounters), it was useful to shift focus to a ‘relational goods’ framework. Emotions and tensions encountered in CFS/ME care and support only emerge via ‘sui generis’ real life interactions, influenced by how social networks and health consultations unfold, and structures like disability support. This relational paradigm reveals the hidden forces at work producing the specific problems of CFS/ME, and offers a ‘no blame’ framework going forward. Chronic fatigue syndrome; myalgic encephalomyelitis; meta-ethnography: qualitative; relational goods; social support; Users' Experience

Survey response rates: trends and a validity assessment framework

Survey methodology has been and continues to be a pervasively used data-collection method in social science research. To better understand the state of the science, we first analyze response-rate information reported in 1014 surveys described in 703 articles from 17 journals from 2010 to 2020. Results showed a steady increase in average response rate from 48% in 2005 to 53% in 2010 to 56% in 2015 and 68% in 2020; a marked increase in the number of surveys per published article from 1.27 in 2015 to 1.79 in 2020; and that variables that predict response-rate fluctuations over time are related to research design (e.g. data-collection medium), participant motivation (e.g. incentives), and researcher motivation (i.e. number of surveys per article). Second, we propose complementary information on contemporary response-rate norms and benchmarks with a response-rate validity assessment framework to gather evidence on accuracy of inferences based on a particular response-rate level. Implementing this validation process involves gathering information on the researcher–participant relationship, participant qualifications and motivation, survey length and complexity, and cultural and national context. Future survey research should implement the validity assessment framework in addition to reporting the response-rate value to better indicate a sample’s quality, appropriateness, and representativeness

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background: PGD for fragile X syndrome (FRAX) is inefficient, probably owing to fewer oocytes, poor embryo quality and difficulties in genetic analysis. We investigated IVF -PGD in FRAX mutation carriers compared with controls, looking at the effects of oocyte and embryo number/quality on live birth outcome. methods: We performed IVF -PGD in 27 patients with the FRAX mutation and 33 controls with other genetic diseases. Genetic testing was by multiplex PCR. results: Seventy-nine and 108 IVF -PGD cycles were started in FRAX mutation carriers and controls, respectively. Twenty-two patients had a premutation (CGG repeat number 60 -200) and five had a full mutation (300-2000 CGG repeats). FRAX patients required higher doses of gonadotrophins (6788 + 2379 versus 4360 + 2330, P , 0.001) but had lower peak serum estradiol levels (8166 + 5880 versus 10 211 + 4673, P ¼ 0.03) and fewer oocytes retrieved (9.8 + 6 versus 14 + 8, P ¼ 0.01). The cancelation rate (unsatisfactory ovarian response) was higher in the FRAX group than in the control group (13 versus 1%, P , 0.001). When embryos were transferred, ongoing pregnancy/live birth rates per transfer were similar (29 versus 36%, P ¼ 0.54). conclusions: Ovarian dysfunction in FRAX carriers is more prevalent and profound than previously appreciated, with a high cancelation rate and reduced efficiency of PGD. The main determinant for successful PGD for FRAX is ovarian dysfunction. When embryo transfer is possible, the results are comparable to PGD for other monogenic diseases