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My daughter blogs at Open-Minded Health on a variety of topics related to sexual minorities. Today she reports on a study of the mental health effects of concealing sexual orientation in men who are behaviorally bisexual but do not identify themselves as gay. None of the participants had told their female partners that they'd had sex with men. Over half felt it was too embarrassing to disclose, and 63% indicated they would lie if asked.
The researchers found that concealment of same-sex sexual behavior was associated with depressive and anxious symptoms. However, disclosure was not significantly associated with mental health. In other words, “coming out” may not improve the mental health of bisexual men. They also found that concealment was indirectly associated with internalized homophobia. Perhaps reducing internalized homophobia is a better psychotherapeutic treatment than encouraging disclosure?
The abstract is here.
The researchers found that concealment of same-sex sexual behavior was associated with depressive and anxious symptoms. However, disclosure was not significantly associated with mental health. In other words, “coming out” may not improve the mental health of bisexual men. They also found that concealment was indirectly associated with internalized homophobia. Perhaps reducing internalized homophobia is a better psychotherapeutic treatment than encouraging disclosure?
The abstract is here.