Demographic Factors and Sexual Self-Disclosure: HIV/AIDS Counselling Implications in Universities in Kenya

Abstract

According to Gromet and Pronin (2009), individuals may be reluctant to disclose their concerns, anxieties, and doubts despite the drawbacks of self-concealment because they do not predict the responses of other people accurately. In short, they assume they will be perceived unfavourably. They are, however, not perceived as unfavourably as they anticipate. They sometimes do not realize they will be perceived favourably as a consequence of their apparent honesty. Gromet and Pronin (2009) conducted a study where participants, all of whom were university students, were exposed to either a list of 40 statements about their potential anxieties or insecurities, such as "I can be extremely impulsive..." or a list of 40 statements that were not as aversive, such as "I am pretty secure in who I am". They chose five statements they felt applied to their lives, and imagined revealing these statements to another student. Finally, they rated the extent to which they would be liked or disliked by the other student. Another set of participants imagined that another student had revealed these five statements. They evaluated the degree to which they might like this person. Generally, participants assumed they would be liked less if they revealed negative information, anxieties and concerns rather than positive information. The results of this study showed that participants actually preferred students who revealed negative information. Individuals who reveal information are more likely to be liked (Kleinke & Kahn, 1980) unless all of their comments are self-incriminating (Robinson, Johnson, & Shields, 1995). These findings indicate that students who reveal negative information are perceived as more honest, which in turn shapes the overall perceptions of liking. Determinants of self-concealment are varied. However, the most prevalent factors that determine selfconcealment include relational mobility, cues that relate to privacy, the wellbeing in other people, age, sex, marital status, religion and identity crisis (Schug, Yuki, & Maddux, 2010). According to Schug, Yuki, and Maddux (2010), relational mobility is when some individuals feel they can readily form new friendship and terminate older friendships. This relational mobility tends to lower self-concealment. Self-concealment elicits both benefits and drawbacks in an individual. It can strengthen relationships by building closeness and trust. On the other hand, after individuals reveal personal information, they might be rejected. The benefits of low self-concealment are more important than are the drawbacks. Because relationships can be readily terminated, the capacity to strengthen these bonds is valued. Since relationships can be readily formed, rejection is not especially distressing. However, relationships are seldom terminated and can as a result cause upset if one is rejected. According to John, Acquisti, and Loewenstein (2010), cues that underscore the importance of privacy tend to increase self-concealment. Cues like promises of confidentiality can actually increase self...