Diagnosis concealment is associated with psychosocial outcomes in persons with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) frequently conceal their diagnosis, fearing professional and personal repercussions of disclosing. Associations of concealment behavior and expected consequences of disclosure with psychosocial outcomes were examined in 90 pwMS who completed validated self-report measures of diagnosis concealment, loneliness, social support, and self-efficacy. More frequent concealment was related to worse loneliness (r_p = 0.213, p = 0.045) and lower social support (r_p = -0.211, p = 0.047), controlling for depression. Higher anticipated negative consequences of disclosure were associated with worse loneliness (r_p = 0.263, p = 0.013), lower social support (r_p = -0.338, p < 0.001), and lower self-efficacy (r_p = -0.350, p < 0.001). Findings hold implications for the development of psychological support strategies addressing concealment/disclosure issues and their psychosocial consequences.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis; diagnosis concealment; loneliness; psychosocial outcomes; self-efficacy; social support.