Types of Discrimination as Predictors of Identity Concealment in a Sexual and Gender Minority Sample

Abstract

AbstractThe present study examined the role of different forms of discrimination (individual-level, institutional-level, and both types of discrimination) in predicting identity concealment behaviors in a sample of sexual and gender minorities (SGM; n = 2296) living in Eastern Europe. Both the choice to engage in identity concealment at all and the frequency to which an individual concealed their identity were regressed onto each type of discrimination. Results of a logistic regression revealed that those who had experienced individual-level, institutional-level, or both types of discrimination were more likely to choose to conceal their identity than those who did not experience discrimination. Using a multivariate regression, each type of discrimination was found to have a positive association with frequency of identity concealment, with those who experienced both types of discrimination showing the strongest association. However, when controlling for country, the association between institutional-level discrimination and frequency of identity concealment was no longer significant. These findings suggest that not all forms of discrimination may have the same impact on SGM individuals and that experiencing multiple forms of discrimination may have compounding effects on one’s choice to conceal their identity and the frequency to which they engage in this behavior.