| My dissertation examined whether concealing a stigmatized identity in public sharpens the distinction between public and private selves. I hypothesized that when identity expression varies along the public-private dimension, this dimension becomes a structural feature of the self-concept, resulting in more distinct public and private selves. I also determined the role of this public-private distinction in the relationship between identity concealment and psychological distress. To assess the strength of the distinction between public and private selves, I measured the speed with which individuals sorted trait attributes into the self-in-public and self-in-private categories. Study I showed that gay men were faster than heterosexual men at distinguishing their work and home selves. Study 2 extended this finding to religious students at a secular university. In Study 3, I established the relationship between actively concealing a stigmatized identity at work and the distinction between work and home selves. Focusing on African-American gay men, Study 3 revealed that priming participants to focus on their sexual identity magnified the work-home distinction to the extent that they concealed their gay identity at work. In contrast, priming participants to focus on their racial identity had a negligible effect on the work-home distinction. Study 4 demonstrated that the strengthened distinction between work and home selves accounted for the perceived stress associated with gay identity concealment at work. Finally, Study 5 replicated the results of Study 4 using an expanded assessment of distress, which included a measure of depressive symptoms. Implications for stigma and self-concept structure are discussed. |
