Disclosing an Invisible Disability during a Romantic Relationship

This study aims to examine the effect of disclosing an invisible disability on the partner's willingness to continue a relationship, as dependent on the type of disability disclosed, the timing of its disclosure, gender, and the negative affects the disclosure aroused. 311 participants read a randomized scenario in which the subject of evaluation was exposed to the partner’s invisible disability, and then completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) to measure the subject of evaluation's affects following the disclosure. Finally, participants rated the subject of evaluation’s degree of willingness to continue the relationship.
Our findings provide evidence expanding our understanding of how self-disclosure may impact the formation of romantic relationships among people with disabilities.