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Examining the Relationship Between Moral Stress and Ethnic Discrimination: Insights from Consultants perspective on Swedish Recruitment Processes

Elgzyri, Nour LU (2025) PSYP01 20251
Department of Psychology
Abstract
This study investigates how recruitment consultants experience moral stress and perceive ethnic discrimination in recruitment processes. While moral stress has been widely studied in healthcare its relevance in recruitment, especially among external consultants, remains underexplored. Using a qualitative design with a critical realist approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematically analyzed. Three main themes emerged: ethical tensions in the recruiter role, subtle forms of ethnic discrimination, and strategies for coping and ethical influence. Participants did not always label their experiences as moral stress yet many described discomfort and frustration when client expectations conflicted with fairness and inclusion.... (More)
This study investigates how recruitment consultants experience moral stress and perceive ethnic discrimination in recruitment processes. While moral stress has been widely studied in healthcare its relevance in recruitment, especially among external consultants, remains underexplored. Using a qualitative design with a critical realist approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematically analyzed. Three main themes emerged: ethical tensions in the recruiter role, subtle forms of ethnic discrimination, and strategies for coping and ethical influence. Participants did not always label their experiences as moral stress yet many described discomfort and frustration when client expectations conflicted with fairness and inclusion. Discrimination was often described as indirect reflected in vague criteria like “fit” or “professionalism.” The findings suggest that moral
stress and perceived discrimination are interconnected. Consultants often navigate ethically complex situations with limited decision-making power but a strong sense of responsibility. The study highlights the ethical challenges embedded in recruitment work and calls for further research comparing external consultants and in-house recruiters, with a focus on how organizational structure and role positioning influence exposure to bias and ethical constraints. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Elgzyri, Nour LU
supervisor
organization
course
PSYP01 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
moral stress, ethnic discrimination, recruitment, consultants, biases
language
English
id
9252126
date added to LUP
2026-10-01 15:44:53
date last changed
2026-10-01 15:44:53
@misc{9252126,
  abstract     = {{This study investigates how recruitment consultants experience moral stress and perceive ethnic discrimination in recruitment processes. While moral stress has been widely studied in healthcare its relevance in recruitment, especially among external consultants, remains underexplored. Using a qualitative design with a critical realist approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematically analyzed. Three main themes emerged: ethical tensions in the recruiter role, subtle forms of ethnic discrimination, and strategies for coping and ethical influence. Participants did not always label their experiences as moral stress yet many described discomfort and frustration when client expectations conflicted with fairness and inclusion. Discrimination was often described as indirect reflected in vague criteria like “fit” or “professionalism.” The findings suggest that moral
stress and perceived discrimination are interconnected. Consultants often navigate ethically complex situations with limited decision-making power but a strong sense of responsibility. The study highlights the ethical challenges embedded in recruitment work and calls for further research comparing external consultants and in-house recruiters, with a focus on how organizational structure and role positioning influence exposure to bias and ethical constraints.}},
  author       = {{Elgzyri, Nour}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Examining the Relationship Between Moral Stress and Ethnic Discrimination: Insights from Consultants perspective on Swedish Recruitment Processes}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}