Association between Masculine Contest Culture and turnover intentions for women STEM faculty: The moderating role of positive dyadic coping

Women in historically male-dominated careers such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) contend with Masculine Contest Cultures (MCCs). MCCs are work environments that encourage competition to achieve dominance, promotions, and other rewards. Such workplaces induce stress, particularly for those in the numerical minority, who experience pressure to adhere to masculine norms. Although support from one’s romantic partner can buffer negative experiences of workplace stress, limited research exists about the role of partner (positive) dyadic coping when faced with hostile work environments. Grounded in the systemic transactional model of dyadic coping, we conducted a two-phase sequential mixed method study. Phase 1, a cross-sectional study, examined whether women faculty’s perceptions of MCC in STEM departments at research-focused universities were associated with turnover intentions, and if partner positive dyadic coping buffered this association. Phase 2, a qualitative study, applied a thematic analysis to explore how women STEM faculty experience their partner’s supportive behaviors during times of workplace stress. Findings highlight the positive effects of romantic partner support when coping with workplace stress, and call attention to university administrators to think beyond the workplace when identifying support resources for faculty in promoting well-being.