Reasons for disclosing depression matter: The consequences of having egosystem and ecosystem goals

Julie A. Garcia and Jennifer Crocker

Social Science & Medicine, 2008, vol. 67, issue 3, 453-462

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.

Keywords: Stigma; Depression; Disclosure; Psychological; well-being; Motivations; Mental; illness; USA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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