Date of Conferral
2-11-2026
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Hedy Dexter
Abstract
Women employed in the technology industry continue to experience gender-based bias that may adversely affect job satisfaction. Although the deleterious impact of gender bias on women’s job satisfaction has been well documented, the potential of self-esteem to mitigate this impact has not yet been examined. Informed by social dominance theory, the purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study was to examine the moderating effect of self-esteem on the relationship between perceived gender bias (i.e., insufficient support, devaluation, hostility) and job satisfaction among women working in the U.S. technology sector. Data were collected from 138 female technology professionals recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk. A standard multiple regression analysis revealed two significant results: perceived gender bias (i.e., insufficient support) negatively predicted job satisfaction, and self-esteem negatively predicted job satisfaction. There were no significant moderating effects on self-esteem. The results highlight the persistent influence of structural inequality in male-dominated workplaces and underscore the importance of organizational-level interventions to address gender bias and improve job satisfaction among women in the technology industry. These findings may contribute to positive social change by informing organizational policies and practices to reduce gender bias and promote more equitable and supportive work environments for women in the technology industry.
Recommended Citation
Minicola, Roberta L., "The Moderating Role of Self-Esteem in the Relationship Between Perceived Gender Bias and Job Satisfaction Among Women in the Technology Industry" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 19179.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/19179
