The Role of Stigma Concealment in the Retrospective High School Experiences of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Individuals

Abstract

High school is a time when most gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) youths experience a great deal of distress related to the stigma attached to being gay. Many try to avoid stigmatization by concealing the fact that they are GLB. This brief report presents a descriptive, multidimensional approach to understanding GLB stigma concealment as a predictor of stigma-related depression, abuse, and absences during high school. Data are reported from a retrospective survey of high school experiences of 85 GLB individuals across the United States. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed the dimensions of stigma concealment assessed in the current study were distinct in predicting abuse, absences, and depression. Implications for future studies of stigma concealment, the coming-out process, and the GLB high school experience are discussed.

Key Words:

• Bisexual
• coming out
• gay
• high school
• lesbian
• stigma
• stigma concealment
• stigma visibility
• youth