title: Reasons for disclosing depression matter: the consequences of having egosystem and ecosystem goals.
abstract: People with depression often conceal their depression and do not seek help, in part because of the stigma associated with mental illness. We propose two motivational systems for the self: egosystem motivations, concerned with protecting and inflating desired self-images, and ecosystem motivations, concerned with contributing or supporting others. Using a sample of 48 individuals at a Midwestern university, USA, this study examined motivations for disclosing or concealing a concealable stigma, to test the hypotheses that: (1) these motivations load on two factors corresponding to egosystem and ecosystem goals, and (2) ecosystem motivations for disclosure have more positive effects on disclosure and psychological well-being. We found that people with egosystem goals disclosed less, and also experienced lower psychological well-being when they did disclose. Conversely, people with ecosystem goals disclosed more and experienced greater psychological well-being while doing so. Implications of these findings for deciding when and to whom to disclose one's depression are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. jgarci31@calpoly.edu
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crocker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D030881:Disclosure; D004532:Ego; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010465:Perception; D012931:Social Environment; D012962:Sociology, Medical