The next time someone swears you to secrecy, you might want to make a hard pass. New research says it could really take a toll on your mental health. Katharine Greenaway, of the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, details the findings in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, revealing, “We do seem to be burdened by other people’s secrets.” Looking at 600 participants who were found to be holding over 10,000 secrets, the study learned that the more confidentiality a secret required, the more it weighed down the person. However, one type of secret can actually be beneficial says Greenaway. “Whereas negative secrets weigh us down, make us feel fatigued and burdened — positive secrets actually make us feel energized and excited and really looking forward to what’s to come,” she tells the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
