Worker social identity and health-related costs for organizations: a comparative study between ethnic groups

Health implications of value conflicts at work and 3 coping resources (self-esteem, collective esteem, and social support at work) were examined for 38 African American and 64 European American workers. Comparisons indicated that the African American participants reported higher levels of value conflicts and collective esteem, but lower levels of social support. They also reported more health actions (i.e., absenteeism and doctor visits) likely to create organizational costs. Value conflicts and the 3 coping resources predicted health-related behavior. Collective esteem predicted health only for African American workers, though social support was a significant predictor only for European American workers. The study findings are integrated with existing literature on social identity at work, social support, and work influences on health.