How Hiding Your Identity Impacts Mental Health

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) young adults who hide their identities experience higher levels of emotional distress and self-uncertainty, according to a University of Michigan study published in Clinical Psychological Science. Conversely, those who remain open about their identities report greater confidence and positivity in their daily lives.

The research, released June 17, 2026, examines how the daily choice to reveal or conceal identity impacts emotional well-being. Lead author Sienna Nielsen, a psychology graduate student at the University of Michigan, stated that institutional policies and social norms limiting identity expression create negative mental health impacts in the moment they occur.

How does identity concealment affect emotional health?

Concealing sexual or gender identity is linked to increased emotional strain and a diminished sense of self-confidence. The study found that participants who felt compelled to hide who they are were more likely to experience uncertainty about their own identities.

Openness produces the opposite effect. Participants who felt able to express their identities reported stronger feelings of self-clarity and identity positivity.

Being able to live authentically may help reinforce a stronger sense of self, while concealing important aspects of identity can create emotional challenges that affect daily well-being.
Sienna Nielsen

How was the SGM identity study conducted?

Researchers tracked 252 SGM young adults over an eight-day period. During this time, they gathered more than 4,300 real-time reports regarding social interactions, identity experiences, and emotions.

The participant pool consisted primarily of nonbinary individuals assigned female at birth and bi+ cisgender women. This method allowed researchers to observe how daily, seemingly ordinary interactions accumulate to influence long-term emotional health.

The project received support from the University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute, with additional coauthors from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Michigan.

What is the link between identity visibility and depression?

SGM populations generally experience higher rates of depression than their non-SGM peers. However, this specific study did not find a direct link between day-to-day identity concealment and depression symptoms during the eight-day observation period.

Negative emotions did play an indirect role. The researchers found that negative emotional responses were particularly prominent when participants felt pressure to hide aspects of their identity, which may contribute to broader mental health disparities over time.

Why is community support important for SGM mental health?

Nielsen and her colleagues argue that building strong queer communities is a necessary defense against the mental health effects of identity concealment. This need is heightened during periods of increased anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and social attitudes.

The researchers noted that while many studies document the existence of mental health disparities among SGM populations, there is less data on how these challenges manifest in everyday life. This study provides a foundation for future work intended to reduce these disparities by identifying the specific daily triggers of emotional distress.