ELEVATED PHYSICAL HEALTH RISK AMONG GAY MEN WHO CONCEAL THEIR HOMOSEXUAL IDENTITY

This study examined the incidence of infectious and neoplastic disease s among 222 HIV-seronegative gay men who participated in the Natural H istory of AIDS Psychosocial Study. Those who concealed the expression of their homosexual identity experienced a significantly higher incide nce of cancer (odds ratio = 3.18) and several infectious diseases (pne umonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, and tuberculosis; odds ratio = 2.91) ov er a 5-year follow-up period. These effects could not be attributed to differences in age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, repressive copin g style, health-relevant behavioral patterns (e.g., drug use, exercise ), anxiety, depression, or reporting biases (e.g., negative affectivit y, social desirability). Results are interpreted in the context of pre vious data linking concealed homosexual identity to other physical hea lth outcomes (e.g., HIV progression and psychosomatic symptomatology) and theories linking psychological inhibition to physical illness.