Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale

Abstract

The Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS) is a specialized psychological instrument designed to quantify the extent to which individuals disclose information about various sexual topics to specific target persons. Developed by Edward S. Herold and Leslie Way, the SSDS is an adaptation of Jourard’s Self-Disclosure Questionnaire (1971), focusing exclusively on the domain of sexuality. It specifically measures disclosure directed toward four key relationship figures: mother, father, close friend of the same sex, and dating partner. This differentiation between target groups is crucial for understanding nuanced patterns of self-disclosure regarding sexual attitudes and behaviors, particularly among young adults.

Keywords

Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale, SSDS, Self-Disclosure, Sexual Topics, Sexuality, Adolescents, Young Adults, Relationship Disclosure, Cronbach alpha, Herold.

Authors

Edward S. Herold, Leslie Way

Purpose

The primary purpose underlying the development of the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale was two-fold. First, the authors sought to construct a reliable instrument that specifically addressed the disclosure of a defined set of sexual topics, distinguishing it from general measures of self-disclosure. This focus was deemed necessary because sexuality covers a wide and complex range of attitudinal and behavioral areas that require differentiated measurement.

The second, crucial objective was to analyze the patterns and extent of sexual self-disclosure separately across distinct relational targets: mother, father, close friend of the same sex, and dating partner. This approach was adopted based on existing research suggesting that the willingness of adolescents and young adults to disclose sexual information varies significantly depending on the recipient, typically showing preference for friends and dating partners over parents.

Construct

The core psychological construct measured by the SSDS is Sexual Self-Disclosure. This refers to the intentional communication of personal information—specifically attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, and feelings related to sexuality—to another individual. The scale assumes that sexuality encompasses a broad spectrum of attitudinal and behavioral areas, requiring differentiation for accurate measurement.

The instrument operationalizes this construct by assessing the depth of disclosure (ranging from “nothing” to “complete detail”) across eight specific sexual subjects, mapped against four distinct target audiences. This structure allows researchers to quantify the variability in vulnerability and intimacy displayed by subjects when communicating highly personal sexual information within different social contexts.

Validity

The validity of the SSDS is supported by its consistency with established findings in the literature concerning relational disclosure patterns. The mean scores derived from the initial university female sample (Herold & Way, 1988) demonstrated patterns that align with prior empirical research (Herold, 1984).

Specifically, the findings indicated significantly greater self-disclosure to friends (M=19.7) and dating partners (M=21.9) compared to parents (Mother M=13.2; Father M=10.1). The lowest mean disclosure score was consistently observed toward the father, providing strong evidence of the scale’s ability to differentiate disclosure levels based on relationship type, thus supporting its criterion-related validity.

Reliability

Internal consistency reliability for the SSDS was established using Cronbach alpha coefficients based on data collected from 203 unmarried university females aged 18 to 22 (Herold & Way, 1988). The results indicated that the scale possesses strong internal reliability across the distinct target groups, particularly for disclosure directed toward peers and romantic partners.

• Disclosure to Mother: Alpha = .84 (Mean Score, M = 13.2)
• Disclosure to Father: Alpha = .71 (Mean Score, M = 10.1)
• Disclosure to Close Friend (Same Sex): Alpha = .89 (Mean Score, M = 19.7)
• Disclosure to Dating Partner: Alpha = .94 (Mean Score, M = 21.9)

The coefficients ranging from .71 to .94 are generally considered acceptable to excellent in psychological research, confirming the reliability of the SSDS as a multi-target measure of sexual disclosure.

Factor Analysis

The source documentation for the initial development of the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS) by Herold and Way (1988) focuses primarily on establishing reliability through Cronbach’s alpha and demonstrating validity through consistency with known disclosure patterns. Explicit details regarding the performance of a formal exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis were not provided in the original text to determine underlying latent factors within the eight sexual items.

However, the scoring methodology treats disclosure to each target group as a separate, summed score, implying a structure where the total extent of disclosure is the primary measure, rather than distinct factors of sexuality.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Questionnaire

Format: 8 items rated on a 4-point Likert-type scale, administered across four distinct target groups. Completion time is approximately 5 minutes.

Language Available: English

Population Group: Young Adults and University Students

Age Group: 18–22 (initial validation sample)

Population Details: The initial study sample consisted of 203 unmarried university females.

Test Methodology: Self-disclosure scores are obtained separately for each of the four target groups (Mother, Father, Close Friend of the Same Sex, Dating Partner). Item scores for each target group are summed to create a total score for disclosure to that specific person, and mean scores are subsequently calculated for comparative analysis.

Keywords

Psychological Measurement, Intimacy, Relationship, Parents, Peers, University Women, Measurement Scale, Validity, Reliability.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]

Correspondence Address: Edward S. Herold, Department of Family Studies, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 1988 (Based on publication of Herold & Way, 1988).

Permissions and Fee: The authors state that there is no charge for the use of the scale and no restriction on its use in research or clinical settings, making it freely available for academic application.

Reference’s

• Herold, E. S. (1984). The sexual behavior of Canadian young people. Markham, Ontario: Fitzhenry & Whiteside.
• Herold, E. S., & Way, L. (1988). Sexual self-disclosure among university women. The Journal of Sex Research, 24, 1–14.
• Jourard, S. (1971). Self-disclosure: An experimental analysis of the transparent self. New York: Wiley.

Items of the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale

You are to read each item in the next section of the questionnaire and then indicate the extent that you have talked about that item to each person (i.e., the extent to which you have made your attitudes and/or behaviours known to that person). Use the rating scale below to describe the extent that you have talked about each item.

The rating scale is:

1. Have told the person nothing about this aspect of me.‌

2. Have talked only in general terms about this item.

3. Have talked in some detail about this item but have not fully discussed my own attitudes or behaviors.

4. Have talked in complete detail about this item to the other person. He or she knows me fully in this respect.

Choose one number in the row which corresponds to the amount of your disclosure. For example, if you have talked in general terms to your mother about your attitudes and/or behaviors regarding masturbation, you would place a 2 in column 6 of the computer card.