“Oh my gosh, you’re too young to be sick!”: Unpacking the consequences of workplace mistreatment for young adults with disabilities.

Abstract

Despite comprising a significant percentage of the workforce and being susceptible to mistreatment, young adults with disabilities have not been widely focused on in the workplace mistreatment literature. In this study, we take an intersectional approach as we examine the specific workplace mistreatment-related ramifications that this cohort of the workforce experiences. Twenty-five semistructured interviews were conducted to better understand the outcomes of workplace mistreatment among young adult employees who self-identify as having a disability. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. Results suggest that workplace mistreatment may shape the identities, relationships, career-related attitudes and behaviors, and health outcomes of this group of employees. This study offers insights into how workplace mistreatment impacts an understudied and underemployed group of employees. By considering multiple axes of power and privilege, namely, disability and age, this study allows for the consideration of the potentially unique experiences encountered by employees who face multiple barriers to their flourishing at work. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).