Secrets we keep for 15 years: Three in five people have something they dread their friends and family finding out about 

  • Most common secrets include internet histories, debt and affairs
  • Some respondents even admitted to having secret children or marriages
  • Research found the average person has kept a secret for 15 years or more 
  • People are most afraid of partners finding out, but mums come second

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 19:55 EST, 12 July 2015 | Updated: 23:55 EST, 12 July 2015

Three in five people have a secret that they dread others finding out, a survey has revealed.

And researchers found the average person has at least one secret that they have been carrying for 15 years or more.

Millions of us have a skeleton in our closet, ranging from affairs or relationships through to secret children or even marriages. 

Hidden secrets: Researchers discovered that three in five of us has a secret that we dread friends and family finding out about. The research was carried out for the release of film The Woman in Black:  Angel of Death on Blu-Ray and DVD (pictured)

Hidden secrets: Researchers discovered that three in five of us has a secret that we dread friends and family finding out about. The research was carried out for the release of film The Woman in Black:  Angel of Death on Blu-Ray and DVD (pictured)

Other secrets include shoplifting as a child or getting caught drunk-driving at some point in the past. 

The study showed people typically have two secrets hidden away – including an internet history they are not proud of, debt, sexual turn-ons and phobias they have never shared.

Lurking: The Woman in Black: Angel of Death book cover. People are most afraid of their partner discovering their secrets, but the idea of their mum finding out also makes people very nervous

Lurking: The Woman in Black: Angel of Death book cover. People are most afraid of their partner discovering their secrets, but the idea of their mum finding out also makes people very nervous

Respondents said the person they most dread unearthing one of the skeletons in their closet is their partner, though a quarter believed their other half would support them if they did find out.

Keeping a big secret from mum was also very common.  

Other secrets included hidden tattoos, poor exam grades and having to pretend to like someone. 

Some 70 per cent of respondents said they keep the secret out of shame or embarrassment.

The poll was carried out for the release of film The Woman in Black: Angel of Death. The film rotates around characters trying to keep their secrets hidden.

Character Harry Burnstow (played by Jeremy Irvine) is hiding the fact that he’s not in the occupation he says he’s in and Eve Parkins (played by Phoebe Fox) is burying the fact she had to give up her baby. 

Others secrets appearing in the list of Brits’ most common skeletons included real-life crushes that could never be revealed, or people hiding their real age from someone.

While others confessed to secrets of having had plastic surgery or being a secret smoker. 

A significant majority of respondents - 70 per cent - said they dread the day someone finds out the truth, while the same number are driven to keep their secrets out of shame and embarrassment.

Over a quarter said what happened is in the past and doesn’t affect them now, just over a fifth keep quiet to preserve their relationship, 13 per cent do it to keep friendships intact and five per cent fear they would lose their job.

 

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