Social-environmental constraints on the development of a concealable stigmatized identity predict psychological distress

Abstract

People who are stigmatized along concealable features (e.g., individuals reporting adverse childhood experiences) often experience challenges to the self-concept, which can promote psychological distress. Developing a stigmatized identity might counter these effects, but the internality of concealable features can forestall this process: individuals may look to similarly-stigmatized others, but if these group members remain concealed (i.e., are not “out”), they are less identifiable as guides for development. In two studies (Ntotal = 845), less outness among similarly-stigmatized others in the social environment predicted increased distress—but only for individuals reporting low progress in processes of positive meaning-making (Studies 1 and 2) and exploration (Study 2). The interaction held when controlling for stigmatizing views endorsed by non-stigmatized counterparts (Study 2). Findings highlight similarly-stigmatized others as important constituents of the social environment: low group visibility and accessibility may uniquely contribute to distress for individuals at early phases of developing a positive and clear stigmatized identity.