The impact of pressured information management on boys' and girls' psychological functioning

• The effects of pressured information management over time for boys and girls were examined.
• Pressured secrecy with mothers had more negative psychological consequences for girls than boys.
• Pressured disclosure with mothers had fewer negative consequences than pressured secrecy.
• Pressured disclosure was associated with improved anxiety for girls but not boys.
• Teens' reasons for engaging in information management strategies are important to consider.

This study involving 463 adolescents examined the impact of pressured information management with mothers on boys' and girls' subsequent psychological functioning. This novel concept of pressured information management involved both pressured secrecy and disclosure and was defined as the degree to which adolescents feel they have no choice but to engage in these strategies. While pressured secrecy was especially aversive for girls, yielding associations with both depression and anxiety, it was related to stress only in boys. Pressured disclosure was less detrimental, and in fact, had a positive influence on girls' anxiety over time. Alternate models for these effects were considered but not supported by the data. Together, these findings highlight the importance of considering teens' reasons for engaging in different information management strategies and suggest adolescents who feel they have no choice but to keep secrets or disclose information to mothers may experience psychological consequences that are gender-specific.