Individuals with chronic health conditions with functional etiology (such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain conditions) report disclosing their condition to fewer friends than peers with conditions with organic etiology. Possible factors in this decision include stigma and misunderstanding surrounding functional disorders. Those with functional illnesses may also disclose less when compared to individuals whose chronic health conditions are organic due to a smaller group of friends, possibly attributed to the reduced amount of people who have shared experiences.

Differences in Illness-Related Social Support Based on Etiology Among College Students with Chronic Health Conditions

Individuals with chronic health conditions who experience pain as a prominent symptom disclose their condition to fewer friends. Stigma and negative attitudes toward pain may lead to this lack of disclosure, and in turn negatively impact access to illness-related social support.

Differences in Illness-Related Social Support Based on Symptomatology Among College Students with Chronic Health Conditions

Illness-related social support is a specific type of social support that includes structural or functional support around the management of chronic health conditions, such as assistance with activities of daily living during a symptom flare-up. To receive illness-related support, an individual must disclose their illness.

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Social support may be even more crucial in college students with chronic health conditions to promote optimal physical, psychosocial, and
self-management outcomes. In young adults with chronic health conditions, high levels of social support has been associated with:

-  Better physical functioning
- Decreased disease-related morbidity and mortality
- Better self-management of their condition's symptoms
-  Higher treatment adherence
- Lower levels of depression
- Higher self-esteem

Importance of Social Support for College Students with Chronic Health Conditions

Feldman, E. C., Macaulay, T., Tran, S. T., Miller, S. A., Buscemi, J., &amp; Greenley, R. N. (2020). Relationships between disease factors and social support in college students with chronic physical illnesses. Children's Health Care. https://doi.org/10.1080/02739615.2020.1723100 

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