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The LGBTQ+ experience of secrecy: a comparative study of secrecy behaviour, ability, and attitude

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Secrecy, the intentional concealment of information from others, is a widespread phenomenon with important implications for mental health, relationships, and identity. While much research has examined the types of secrets people keep, little is known about how secrecy is experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals, for whom concealment may involve core aspects of identity such as gender and sexuality. Using a multi-faceted framework, this study compared LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ individuals (N = 780, Mage = 22.6y, 28.7% identified as LGBTQ+) on three facets of secrecy: tendency for secrecy, perceived ability, and attitudes towards secrecy. LGBTQ+ participants showed a higher overall tendency to keep secrets. Contrary to expectations, they reported lower self-perceived secrecy ability than non-LGBTQ+ individuals, and no significant differences were found in secrecy attitudes. Additional analyses indicated that LGBTQ+ participants reported higher self-concealment but did not differ in their general willingness to disclose distress. Taken together, these findings provide a more nuanced understanding of secrecy as a psychological construct and highlight the need for clinical and policy approaches that address the unique secrecy-related challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals.

Source: Psychology and Sexuality

DOI: 10.1080/19419899.2025.2599242

Authors: Ruth Van der Hallen, Nina Vyvcharuk, Ildikó Éva Csizmazia, Linda P. Dekker

Institution: Erasmus University Rotterdam

Language: English

Topic: LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funder: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek