Stigma-related stress is another specific stressor that may contribute to the development of rumination among sexual minorities, in part because chronic experiences of discrimination and rejection engender increased hypervigilance (Major & O’Brien, 2005; Mays, Cochran, & Barnes, 2007; Mendoza-Denton et al., 2002), an element of rumination (Lyubomirsky, Tucker, Caldwell, & Berg, 1999). Additionally, several characteristics involved in managing a concealed identity like homosexuality could also serve to potentiate rumination. In particular, preoccupation with the stigma and whether it will be discovered is a common experience for those with concealed identities (Pachankis, 2008). Because preoccupation with the secret of a concealed stigma can be upsetting, individuals often attempt to suppress or inhibit thoughts about the stigma (Smart & Wegner, 1999), which can lead to subsequent rumination (King, Emmons, & Woodley, 1992). Facing constant decisions about when and whether to conceal the stigma also increases uncertainty and ambiguity in interpersonal interactions, which is associated with ruminative self-focus (Lyubomirsky et al., 1999). Finally, those with concealed identities engage in frequent self-monitoring (Pachankis, 2008). This increased focus on the self can, over time, develop into the passive and repetitive self-focus that characterizes much of rumination (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991).
