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

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, M_age = 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.