Stereotype threat and burnout among university students studying in opposite-gender dominant fields

Previous research suggests that females who work in male dominated fields may be at risk of experiencing burnout related to stereotype-threat. Other research has suggested that how strongly an individual identifies with the negatively stereotyped group, and the level of strain in peer relationships, may play a role in the experience of stereotype threat related burnout. This research aimed to investigate whether university students who study in fields dominated by the opposite gender also experience burnout related to stereotype threat, and whether gender identity strength and strain in classroom relationships influence the stereotype threat experience. We invited full-time university students who were among the minority gender in their field to complete an online questionnaire. Our male sample consisted of 58 students identifying as male and studying nursing, occupational therapy, social work, or early childhood teaching, while our female sample consisted of 68 students identifying as female and studying engineering or computer science. Our results suggested that both male and female students studying in opposite gender dominant fields may be at risk of experiencing burnout related to stereotype threat, and that gender identity strength may influence some of the negative effects of stereotype threat. Our results also suggested that strain in classroom relationships appears to play a role in stereotype threat related burnout among males studying in female-dominated fields, but not for females studying in male dominated fields. The implications of the findings are discussed.