More than 70% of the participants in a recent study reported concealing their symptoms of contagious illnesses, shedding light on a concerning trend in public health.

The study, which involved over 4,100 participants, revealed that 75% of individuals had either hidden or would consider hiding their infectious illness in the future. This behavior was often attributed to social plans or institutional pressures, indicating a significant discrepancy between people’s predicted actions when sick and their actual behavior.

Notably, the research found that more than 61% of healthcare workers admitted to concealing their illness, emphasizing the widespread nature of this phenomenon.

The findings, published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, underscore the alarming reality that a large proportion of individuals opt to conceal their contagious sickness to fulfill work, travel, or social commitments.

Wilson N. Merrell, a doctoral candidate and lead author of the study, highlighted the contrast between the perceptions of healthy individuals and those who are actively sick. He noted that while healthy individuals believed they would be unlikely to hide harmful illnesses, sick individuals reported high levels of concealment regardless of the severity and transmissibility of their illness.

The study’s insights are particularly relevant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as participants reported concealing symptoms since its onset in March 2020. This behavior, observed among both healthcare employees and students, raises concerns about the potential for widespread transmission of infectious illnesses.

The research serves as a crucial reminder of the need for collective solutions to address this public health issue, going beyond individual responsibility to mitigate the risks associated with concealing contagious sickness.