University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.
Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2024 Sep;50(9):1332-1347. doi: 10.1177/01461672231172387. Epub 2023 May 24.
Keeping a secret is often considered burdensome, with numerous consequences for well-being. However, there is no standardized measure of secrecy burden, and most studies focus on individual/cognitive burden without considering social/relational aspects. This research aimed to develop and validate a secrecy burden measure tapping both intrapersonal and interpersonal components. Study 1 used exploratory factor analysis to reveal a four-factor model of secrecy burden: Daily Personal Impact, Relationship Impact, Pull to Reveal, and Anticipated Consequences. Study 2 used confirmatory factor analysis to replicate this factor structure and found that each factor was uniquely associated with different emotional and well-being outcomes. Study 3 employed a longitudinal design and found that higher scores on each factor predicted lower authenticity and higher depression and anxiety 2 to 3 weeks later. Altogether, this research is the first step in standardizing a secrecy burden measure and applying it to real-world secrets and well-being outcomes.
保守秘密通常被认为是一种负担，会对幸福感产生诸多影响。然而，目前还没有衡量秘密负担的标准化方法，大多数研究都集中在个体/认知负担上，而没有考虑到社会/关系方面。本研究旨在开发和验证一种既能反映个体内部又能反映人际间成分的秘密负担衡量方法。研究 1 使用探索性因素分析揭示了秘密负担的四因素模型：日常个人影响、关系影响、揭示倾向和预期后果。研究 2 使用验证性因素分析复制了这种因素结构，并发现每个因素都与不同的情感和幸福感结果有独特的关联。研究 3 采用了纵向设计，发现每个因素的得分越高，表明 2 至 3 周后真实性越低，抑郁和焦虑程度越高。总之，这项研究是标准化秘密负担衡量方法并将其应用于现实生活中的秘密和幸福感结果的第一步。
