From Invisible to Visible: Phenomenological Analysis of Living With Concealable Chronic Conditions
Abstract
Long COVID has contributed to the unveiling of invisible chronic conditions, which, while not necessarily life-threatening, profoundly affects an individual’s physical and psychological wellbeing. Concealable chronic conditions (CCCs) encompass incurable, long-term health conditions characterized by symptoms that are difficult to visibly detect, thereby classified as concealable stigmatized identities due to the invisible nature of symptoms and the health stigma. The current study aimed to introduce the lived experiences of young adults with CCCs, with a particular focus on their disclosure experiences and coping with CCCs in times of Long COVID. A total of 14 individuals across the United States participated in semi-structured interviews. Findings illustrated the following themes in their lived experiences of CCCs: (a) early disclosure and medical gaslighting, (b) selective disclosure process, and (c) navigation of resources and support post-pandemic. Implications for counseling young adults with CCCs and future research directions are discussed.
Subject Area
Counseling Psychology|Mental health|Clinical psychology|Social psychology|Public health
Recommended Citation
Chae, Lenia Dayeon, "From Invisible to Visible: Phenomenological Analysis of Living With Concealable Chronic Conditions" (2024). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI31146625.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI31146625
