Associations between Workplace LGB+ Disclosure and Organizational LGB+ Climate, Discrimination, Job Satisfaction, and Mental Health: A Multiverse-Based, Meta-Analytic Systematic Review

Disclosing an LGB+ orientation in the workplace is a communicative act that may be linked to organizational and personal circumstances. This multiverse-based, meta-analytic systematic review aims to examine the association of disclosing an LGB+ orientation with organizational LGB+ climate, discrimination, job satisfaction, and mental health. We conducted a pre-registered systematic review in line with PRISMA guidelines. Multi-tiered, systematic literature searches were conducted across 4 databases and further sources. Sixty-five studies from 62 publications (19,440 participants) met prespecified inclusion criteria. Pooled effect sizes (Pearson r) were calculated based on three-level, multiverse meta-analyses. Across 792 models, we found that workplace LGB+ disclosure was associated with a better organizational climate (mean observed r = .39), less discrimination (r = -.24), higher job satisfaction (r = .15), and better mental health (r = .14). Moderator analyses were mostly inconclusive with some evidence found for disclosure type, sexual orientation, gender, and year of data collection in certain subsets of multiverse specifications. Organizations aiming to support the well-being of LGB+ employees may benefit from cultivating non-discriminatory work environments, as such LGB+ friendly environments are associated with greater openness about sexual orientation and, in turn, with higher job satisfaction and better mental health among LGB+ staff. This multiverse-based, meta-analytic systematic review considers different communicative forms of disclosure and examines the associations of disclosure with organizational and personal variables and considers a variety of moderating variables.