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Background Although research on recovery disclosure is expanding, few studies have explored how post-secondary employees experience and navigate disclosure within academic contexts that often promote substance use and threaten recovery.Methods Drawing on a Recovery Capital (RC) framework and stigma theory, we conducted a community-based participatory study to examine disclosure experiences among 10 Canadian university employees (faculty and staff) in recovery from substance use and/or behavioral addictions. Most participants were women and nonacademic staff, with an average recovery length of 7.8 years. Alcohol and binge eating emerged as the most common recovery experiences. We analyzed semi-structured interviews using reflexive thematic analysis.Results Participants described a spectrum of disclosure experiences, ranging from full openness to complete concealment, shaped by two main themes that captured the key influencing factors: 1. Social RC - Relationships as gateways and barriers to disclosure: Trust and emotional safety supported disclosure. Stigma led participants to minimize or hide their recovery, especially in relationships that felt invalidating; 2. Community RC - Navigating norms, stigma, and advocacy: Campus norms around alcohol and food shaped disclosure decisions. Some avoided campus supports due to stigma, limited availability, or lack of awareness, while others disclosed strategically to offer support and advocate for change.Conclusion Recovery disclosure among post-secondary employees is deeply relational, norms driven, and context dependent. Strengthening peer supports, visibility, and inclusive policies can reduce stigma and build more recovery-friendly academic environments.
Burns et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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