Affiliations: Department of Human Sciences, Brockington Building,
Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK | Psychology Department, Whitehead Building, Goldsmiths
College, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW, UK | Institute of Work, Health & Organisations,
University of Nottingham, Science & Technology Park, University
Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 2RQ, UK
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Joanna Pryce, Psychology
Department, Whitehead Building, Goldsmiths College, University of London, New
Cross, London SE14 6NW, UK. Tel.: +44 20 7078 5032; Fax: +44 20 7919 7873;
E-mail: j.pryce@gold.ac.uk
Abstract: This study explored possible gender differences in the
self-management of chronic illness as predictors for self-disclosure to line
managers. A survey, sent to participants at a university, found 461 women and
273 men reporting a chronic illness. Findings suggest that women reported more
symptoms of their illness and were more likely to perceive receiving emotional
support from others as being important in managing their illness. In contrast,
men were more likely to have higher sickness absence and report their symptoms
as being more frequent. Despite the difference in the experience of illness
between the two genders, findings suggests that the importance of receiving
emotional support from line managers is the strongest predictor for disclosure
of illness for both genders.
