Majority Conceal Infectious Illnesses, Study Finds

Research reveals a discrepancy between how people predict they would act when sick and their actual behavior, with many downplaying the severity and transmissibility of their illness.

• New research from the University of Michigan reveals that 75% of 4,110 participants have concealed an infectious illness from others at least once or might do so in the future.
• More than 61% of healthcare workers participating in the study also admitted to hiding an infectious illness.
• Participants often concealed their illness to avoid missing work, travel, or social events, and this behavior was observed regardless of the severity or transmissibility of the illness.
• Healthy individuals predicted they would be unlikely to hide harmful illnesses, but those who were actively sick reported high levels of concealment.
• The study suggests that solutions to the problem of disease concealment may need to rely on more than just individual good will.

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