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Background: Self-disclosure may enhance positive illness perceptions, whereas patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) always facing negative illness perceptions due to multiple reasons, so elucidation of factors affecting self-disclosure may facilitate the development of quality of life. Methods: A total of 161 hospitalized patients with SLE were recruited. Scales on demographic and clinical characteristics, self-disclosure, psychosocial status (e.g. Social Support Rating Scale – SSRS) and quality of life were used to collect related information from clients. Univariate analysis was performed by Kruskal–Wallis rank-sum test or chi-square test, and multivariate analysis by ordinal logistic regression. Results: Social support, drinking, depression and cause of hospitalization were found to be influencing factors of self-disclosure. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that the significant and independent factors associated with self-disclosure in patients with SLE were social support, drinking and depression. Domains of LupusQoL, except physical health and fatigue, were positively correlated with self-disclosure. Conclusions: With the increase of social support, the level of self-disclosure become worse, drinking, depression and cause of hospitalization are risk factors for it. Moreover, the level of self-disclosure is positively related to the LupusQoL. Medical staff should formulate effective measures according to the results to improve self-disclosure in patients with SLE and promote their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]