Have you ever hidden things about your sexual orientation? The SOCS measures how often you actively conceal it. 6 items, about 2-3 minutes.

What Is the Sexual Orientation Concealment Scale (SOCS)?

The SOCS measures how often you've actively concealed your sexual orientation over the past two weeks — a behavioral measure of concealment, not just feelings. Jackson and Mohr (2016) developed these 6 items.

What It Measures

The SOCS captures the frequency of behavioral concealment strategies used by LGB individuals, including:

  • Hiding one's sexual orientation from others
  • Avoiding conversations about romantic relationships
  • Modifying behavior to appear heterosexual
  • Denying or downplaying one's sexual orientation

Scoring

Higher mean scores indicate more frequent concealment behavior.

Psychometric Properties

The SOCS has good reliability (α = .77–.79) and a unidimensional factor structure.

Result Interpretation

After completing the 6 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:

  • Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
  • Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
  • Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available

All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.