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Unhealthy closets, discriminatory dwellings: The mental health benefits and costs of being open about one's sexual minority status

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  • Suppes, Alexandra
  • van der Toorn, Jojanneke
  • Begeny, Christopher T.

Abstract

With a concealable stigmatized identity, sexual minorities not only face discrimination but the burden of deciding when to be open about their sexuality. What are the mental health costs and benefits to openness about sexual minority status? On the one hand, openness fosters integration within the LGBTQ + community (yielding downstream benefits), but it also heightens perceptions of discrimination towards oneself and the group at large (yielding downstream costs for mental health).

Suggested Citation

  • Suppes, Alexandra & van der Toorn, Jojanneke & Begeny, Christopher T., 2021. "Unhealthy closets, discriminatory dwellings: The mental health benefits and costs of being open about one's sexual minority status," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:285:y:2021:i:c:s0277953621006183
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114286
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Tyler, Tom R. & Blader, Steven L., 2002. "Autonomous vs. comparative status: Must we be better than others to feel good about ourselves?," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 89(1), pages 813-838, September.
    3. Quinn, Diane M. & Weisz, Bradley M. & Lawner, Elizabeth K., 2017. "Impact of active concealment of stigmatized identities on physical and psychological quality of life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 14-17.
    4. Meyer, I.H., 2016. "The elusive promise of LGBT equality," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(8), pages 1356-1358.
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    Cited by:

    1. Livia Fratelli & Luis Cesar Fava Spessoto & Fernando Nestor Facio Junior, 2022. "Sexual Orientation of Medical Students and Influence on Academic Performance and Mental Health," International Journal of Sciences, Office ijSciences, vol. 11(08), pages 1-6, August.

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