Effects of sexual orientation concealment on well-being among sexual minorities: How and when does concealment hurt?

Abstract

As a common experience for sexual minority individuals, sexual orientation concealment has complex implications. Self-determination theory (SDT) and previous studies suggest a mediation path where hiding sexual orientation is associated with well-being through eroding lesbian, gay, bisexual-specific authenticity and inducing loneliness. However, this relationship has rarely been examined using longitudinal data. This study also built on minority stress theory to determine whether the psychological process of concealment operates differently as a function of perceived acceptance in different contexts. A community sample of 636 sexual minority individuals in Hong Kong (48.3% men, 50.5% women, and 1.3% transgender and nonbinary individuals; mean age = 25.36 years) was recruited through lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) social media, nongovernmental organizations, and social venues to complete a baseline and 1-year follow-up survey. The results showed that loneliness mediated the relationship between concealment and well-being. Moreover, the mediation path from concealment to well-being via loneliness was moderated by the perceived LGBT-friendliness of the family. The negative association between concealment and well-being was only significant when the family was perceived as supportive of sexual and gender minorities. The study findings elucidated the complex mechanisms involved in the adverse outcomes of sexual orientation concealment and highlighted the importance of loneliness and family context when working with sexual minority clients on their concerns over sexual orientation concealment. Public Significance StatementThis study indicates that concealing sexual orientation may give rise to feelings of loneliness, which are harmful to the well-being of sexual minority individuals. The adverse effects of concealment are particularly salient among those who perceive their family as LGBT-friendly. Counseling psychologists should assist sexual minority clients in evaluating acceptance in social environments carefully and weighing the costs and benefits of concealment without sacrificing their need for relatedness.

The timing of sexual identity development milestones: Disentangling age from cohort influences.

“…The time between first awareness of same-sex attraction and first disclosure can be conceptualized as a measure of sexual identity concealment (Mohr & Fassinger, 2000; Pachankis et al, 2020). Concealment is complex in relation to health and well-being, with the potential to simultaneously generate stress from inauthenticity, protection from discrimination, and loneliness from disconnection (Huang & Chan, 2022; Pachankis et al, 2020). Moreover, the meaning and health relevance of concealment may be shifting across generations.…”

When secrets come to mind: Preoccupation, suppression and engagement

“…The more significant the secret is, the more inclined one is to suppress it when it comes to conscious awareness. It is well‐established in the literature on addictions and mental health, as well as the LGBTQ+ literature, that concealment is common, and that efforts to conceal these socially devalued aspects of oneself are associated with worse outcomes (Hing & Russell, 2017; Horch & Hodgins, 2015; Huang & Chan, 2022; Hunter et al., 2017; Pachankis, 2007).…”

Parental Acceptance and LGBT Community Connectedness as Predictors of Outness Among Filipino Queer Young Adults

“…Additionally, the participants were living with or were in contact with their parents as this strengthens perceived parental acceptance in the social context of queer individuals (Chang et. al., 2021;Huang & Chan, 2022;Kiperman et. al., 2014;Kavanaugh et.…”