Cardiovascular correlates of disclosing homosexual orientation

Abstract

Many people conceal their homosexuality. Concealment of homosexual orientation can be experienced as chronic stress and be associated with increased levels of physical symptoms. Research suggests that disclosure may produce a reduction in perceived stress, physical symptoms, and physiological activation. The cardiovascular activations levels of 27 healthy adult gay males were measured during resting baseline, a disclosure task (i.e. participants were instructed to talk about the difficulties associated with concealing one's sexual orientation), and a recovery phase. Several 2 (high/low concealment) × 2 (high/low disclosure) ANOVAs were conducted to determine if there was an interaction between level of concealment and level of disclosure during the recovery period. Results indicated that participants with a high concealment and high disclosure during the study exhibited significantly greater cardiovascular recovery than participants who engaged in a lower level of disclosure. These findings are discussed in light of Pennebaker's research on inhibition and confession. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Minority Stress and Physical Health Among Sexual Minorities

“…Among LGB individuals in particular, concealing sexual orientation negatively impacts immune function—this is consistent with Perez-Benitez et al’s (2007) findings. Specifically, HIV-positive gay men who concealed their sexual orientation in one study exhibited significantly higher incidences of cancer, infectious diseases, and mortality in a 5-year longitudinal study (Cole, Kemeny, et al, 1996).…”

“…Both the general importance of ANS reactivity for physical health and recent evidence from racial minority communities support the notion that minority stress may help to explain disparities in cardiovascular disease and disease risk documented among LGB individuals (e.g., Case et al, 2004; Diamant & Wold, 2003). Furthermore, Perez-Benitez, O’Brien, Carels, Gordon, and Chiros (2007) compared cardiovascular recovery of healthy gay men who disclosed their sexual orientation during a laboratory experiment with recovery of those who did not disclose their orientation. They found greater recovery among gay men who disclosed their sexual orientation—a pattern that is at odds with previous observations of elevated cortisol levels following disclosure (Huebner & Davis, 2005).…”

Sexual orientation, disclosure, and cardiovascular stress reactivity

“…We must be cautious about this conclusion, however, given our limited power and sample heterogeneity. Because LGB individuals who conceal their sexual orientation are inhibiting a wide range of complex behaviors (Pachankis, 2007), they are likely allocating resources to this inhibition at a potential physiological price (Juster, et al, 2013;Pérez-Benitez, et al, 2007). On the other hand, past research indicates that disclosure may not always be associated with better health outcomes for sexual minorities (Doyle and Molix, 2016).…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, only one American study assessed cardiovascular reactivity by exposing 27 healthy adult gay men to a psychosocial stressor that involved discussing difficulties associated with concealing one's sexual orientation in day-to-day life (Pérez-Benitez, O'Brien, Carels, Gordon, & Chiros, 2007). Men with high concealment of their sexual orientation but who engaged in more disclosure during the laboratory task exhibited greater cardiovascular recovery (assessed via heart rate and stroke volume) than those men who engaged in less disclosure during the task (Pérez-Benitez, et al, 2007). Despite low power and no sexual minority women, this study highlights the role that concealment and disclosure may have on cardiovascular reactivity and the heart health of sexual minority men.…”

Homofobia y Calidad de vida de Gay y Lesbianas: una mirada psicosocial

“…Otros estudios han documentado asociaciones entre estrés psicológico y percepción de discriminación en homosexuales (Díaz, Ayala, Bein, Henne & Marin, 2001;Mays & Cochran, 2001) y experiencias de victimización (Herek, Gillis & Cogan 1999;Hershberger & D'Augelli, 1995;Pescoe & Smart Richman, 2009;Waldo, Hesson-McInnis & D'Augelli, 1998). Otro conjunto de estudios sugiere que la experiencia de discriminación puede resultar en cambios psicológicos negativos y en efectos fisiológicos que podrían contribuir a mayor morbilidad (Pérez-Benítez, O'Brien, Carels, Gordon & Chiros, 2007). Asimismo, los malos tratos se asocian a baja autoestima e incremento de ideación y riesgo suicida, cuestión que ha sido documentada entre adolescentes y jóvenes adultos que tienen una orientación sexual minoritaria Hidaka & Operario, 2006;Mathy, 2002;Mays & Cochran, 2001;Meyer, 1995Meyer, , 2003Paul et al, 2002).…”