Objective: Peer support is an essential component of adolescence and is instrumental in reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness. Yet, many youth and young adults experiencing a chronic medical condition conceal or minimize aspects of their conditions due to feared rejection. Disclosure practices in adolescents with chronic illnesses are not well-studied with little known about the nature of information disclosed. This study sought to better understand the relationship between the depth of information disclosed to friends and health-related quality of life, response to stress, and coping strategies. Methods: The sample consisted of 140 patients between the ages of 15–21 years who were recruited from seven sub-specialty medical clinics. Quantitative data was collected from a baseline survey examining disclosure, coping, and health-related quality of life. Results: Three groups were created and compared based on participant responses to the types of information being disclosed to friends: No Disclosure, Facts, and Concerns/Emotions. Participants who disclosed the psychological impact and concerns related to their condition tended to be female and had a significantly higher number of friends to whom they disclosed. This group of participants also tended to endorse higher levels of illness-related stress and was engaging in more positive coping strategies than those who chose not to disclose information or only shared objective information about their conditions. Conclusion: Understanding of the nuances of the depth and decision-making of disclosure is necessary for providers to be able to support youth with chronic illness as they navigate their social environment and relationships.

目标: 同伴支持是青春期的重要组成部分，有助于减少孤立感和孤独感。然而，由于害怕被拒绝，许多患有慢性疾病的青年人和青年人会隐瞒或淡化他们的病情。对患有慢性病的青少年的披露做法没有得到充分研究，对所披露信息的性质知之甚少。本研究旨在更好地了解向朋友披露信息的深度与健康相关生活质量、压力反应和应对策略之间的关系。方法：样本包括 140 名年龄在 15-21 岁之间的患者，他们是从七个亚专科诊所招募的。定量数据是从检查披露、应对和健康相关生活质量的基线调查中收集的。结果：根据参与者对向朋友披露的信息类型的反应，创建并比较了三组：不披露、事实和担忧/情绪。披露与其状况相关的心理影响和担忧的参与者往往是女性，并且有更多的朋友向他们披露。与那些选择不透露信息或只分享有关其状况的客观信息的人相比，这组参与者也倾向于认可更高水平的与疾病相关的压力，并采取更积极的应对策略。结论：了解披露的深度和决策的细微差别对于提供者能够在他们驾驭他们的社会环境和关系时支持患有慢性病的青年是必要的。