Relationships between disease factors and social support in college students with chronic physical illnesses

Understanding how disease factors impact social support received by college students with chronic health conditions (CHCs) has implications for promoting optimal adjustment. To this end, 121 undergraduates with various CHCs completed measures of general and illness-specific social support from peers and provided information about their CHC diagnosis and pain symptoms. Social support levels were similar across those with CHCs and healthy peers. Although functional etiology and pain symptoms did not impact general social support or perceived peer supportiveness following disclosure, those with CHCs of functional etiology or those with pain as a symptom disclosed their diagnosis to fewer friends.