Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale

Abstract

The Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS) is an objective self-report instrument designed by William E. Snell, Jr., and colleagues (Snell & Belk, 1987; Snell et al., 1989) to measure an individual’s willingness to discuss various sexual topics with specific target persons. The development of the scale was motivated by the psychological literature emphasizing the importance of sexual communication.

The initial version of the SSDS comprised 120 items forming 12 distinct subscales, used to assess disclosure willingness primarily toward male and female therapists. The scale was later extended and refined into the Revised Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS-R), consisting of 72 items across 24 three-item subscales. The SSDS-R focuses specifically on measuring disclosure willingness toward an intimate partner, incorporating a broader range of sexual topics including affective states, preferences, and concerns like AIDS and sexual morality. Both versions utilize a 5-point Likert-type scale for response scoring.

Keywords

Sexual Self-Disclosure, SSDS, SSDS-R, Sexual Communication, Intimacy, Willingness to Disclose, Psychological Assessment, Self-Report, Psychometric Scale.

Authors

William E. Snell, Jr., S. S. Belk, D. R. Papini, S. Clark

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS and SSDS-R) is to provide a standardized, objective measure of the degree to which individuals are willing to communicate personal and private aspects of their sexuality. It addresses a critical need identified in human sexuality literature regarding open discussion of sexual topics.

The scale serves to investigate how willingness to disclose varies based on two key dimensions: the content of the sexual topic (e.g., behavior vs. affect) and the identity of the disclosure recipient (e.g., therapist, parent, friend, or intimate partner). This allows researchers to analyze the dynamics of sexual communication within different relationship contexts.

Construct

The SSDS measures the construct of Sexual Self-Disclosure. This construct encompasses the conscious and voluntary sharing of personal information regarding one’s sexual behaviors, feelings, attitudes, fantasies, and concerns. The scale operationalizes this construct through two comprehensive formats:

• The original SSDS measures 12 core dimensions of sexual topics, including sexual behavior, sensations, fantasies, attitudes, meaning of sex, positive/negative sexual affect, concerns, birth control, sexual responsibility, sexual dishonesty, and rape.
• The SSDS-R expands this scope to 24 subscales, adding dimensions such as sexual preferences, accountability, distressing sex, delay preferences, abortion and pregnancy, homosexuality, AIDS, sexual morality, and various specific affective states (e.g., jealousy, apathy, anxiety, happiness, anger, fear).

Validity

Validation efforts reported by Snell et al. (1989) established that responses to the SSDS demonstrated variation based on the gender of the recipient and the specific content disclosed. This supports the scale’s ability to differentiate patterns of communication across contexts.

Specific findings indicated that women reported a greater willingness to discuss SSDS topics with a female therapist than with a male therapist. Furthermore, responses to the SSDS-R, which targets the intimate partner, were shown to vary significantly depending on the respondent’s gender and the particular sexual topic being assessed, lending support to the scale’s sensitivity to social and interpersonal variables.

Reliability

The internal consistency of the SSDS was determined through the calculation of Cronbach alpha coefficients for all subscales across both versions. The reliability scores indicated strong internal consistency, justifying the scale’s use in research investigations.

• For the original SSDS (12 subscales): Alpha coefficients ranged from 0.83 to 0.93 (average 0.90) when the target was a female therapist, and from 0.84 to 0.94 (average 0.92) when the target was a male therapist.
• For the revised SSDS-R (24 subscales): Reliability coefficients ranged from 0.59 to 0.91, yielding a solid average of 0.81.

Factor Analysis

The structure of the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale is defined by its distinct content subscales. The original SSDS is built upon 12 core dimensions, each measured by five items, while the SSDS-R expands this framework into 24 dimensions, each measured by three items. This structure suggests a multidimensional construct where different aspects of sexual communication are treated as separate, yet related, factors.

Although the original source documents focus on the reliability of these pre-defined subscales rather than detailing the formal factor analytic methods used for their initial derivation, the rigorous grouping of items and high internal consistency coefficients confirm the empirical soundness of these specific sexual disclosure dimensions.

Instrument

Test Type: Objective Self-report instrument

Format: The initial SSDS has 120 items (12 subscales of 5 items each, assessed against two targets). The revised SSDS-R has 72 items (24 subscales of 3 items each, assessed against one target: intimate partner). Responses are measured on a 5-point Likert-type scale (0 to 4).

Language Available: English

Population Group: Individuals engaged in interpersonal relationships or therapy (e.g., college students, adults).

Age Group: Typically adult populations.

Population Details: Used to compare disclosure willingness across genders and various relationship targets (therapists, friends, parents, intimate partners).

Test Methodology: Paper-and-pencil questionnaire format, often completed using a computer scan sheet or directly on the instrument. Completion time is typically 20–30 minutes.

Keywords

Sexual Attitudes, Sexual Behavior, Rape, Sexual Affect, Birth Control, Sexual Morality, Psychodiagnostics, Affective Disclosure, Likert Scale, Psychometrics.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Information not provided in source.

Affiliation Email addresses: Information not provided in source. Primary author affiliation was Southeast Missouri State University.

Correspondence Address: Information not provided in source.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: Initial version (SSDS) developed circa 1987. Revised version (SSDS-R) validated in 1989.

Permissions and Fee: Information regarding current licensing or usage fees is not provided in the source material. Users should contact the primary author, William E. Snell, Jr., for permission to use the scale.

Reference’s

• Snell, W. E., Jr., & Belk, S. S. (1987, April). Development of the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS): Sexual disclosure to female and male therapists. Paper presented at the 33rd annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.
• Snell, W. E., Jr., Belk, S. S., Papini, D. R., & Clark, S. (1989). Development and validation of the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale. Annals of Sex Research, 2, 307–334.

Items of the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale

Instructions: This survey is concerned with the extent to which you have discussed the following 60 topics about sexuality with several different people. Listed below you will notice four columns a which represent the following individuals: (A) your mother, (B) your father,

1. your best male friend, and (D) your best female friend. For each of these people, indicate how much you have discussed these topics with them. Use the following scale for your responses:

   Have not	Have slightly	Have moderately	Have mostly	Have fully
   discussed	discussed	discussed	discussed	discussed
   this topic:	this topic:	this topic:	this topic:	this topic:

   1. with your mother.

   2. with your father.

   3. with your best male friend.

   4. with your best female friend.

1. My past sexual experiences

2. The things that sexually arouse me

3. My imaginary sexual encounters

4. The sexual behaviors which I think people ought to exhibit

5. What sex means to me

6. How guilty I feel about sex

7. How satisfied I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

8. Times when sex was distressing for me

9. What I think about birth control

10. My private notion of sexual responsibility

11. The times I have faked orgasm

12. My private views about rape

13. The types of sexual behaviors I’ve engaged in

14. The sexual activities that “feel good” to me

15. My private sexual fantasies

16. What I consider “proper” sexual behaviors

17. What it means to me to make love together with someone

18. How anxious I feel about my sex life

19. How content I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

20. Times when I had undesired sex

21. How I feel about abortions

22. The responsibility one ought to assume for one’s sexuality

23. The times I have pretended to enjoy sex

24. The “truths and falsehoods” about rape

25. The number of times I have had sex

26. The behaviors that are sexually exciting to me

27. My sexually exciting imaginary thoughts

28. The sexual conduct that people ought to exhibit

29. What I think and feel about having sex with someone

30. How depressed I feel about my own sexuality

31. How happy I feel about my sexuality

32. Times when I was pressured to have sex

33. How I feel about pregnancy

34. My own ideas about sexual accountability

35. The times I have lied about sexual matters

36. What women and men really feel about rape

37. The sexual positions I’ve tried

38. The sensations that are sexually arousing to me

39. My “juicy” sexual thoughts

40. My attitudes about sexual behaviors

41. The meaning that sexual intercourse has for me

42. How frustrated I feel about my sex life

43. How much joy that sex gives me

44. The aspects of sex that bother me

45. My private beliefs about pregnancy prevention

46. The idea of having to answer for one’s sexual conduct

47. What I think about sexual disloyalty

48. Women’s and men’s reactions to rape

49. The places and times-of-day when I’ve had sex

50. The types of sexual foreplay that feel arousing to me

51. The sexual episodes that I daydream about

52. My personal beliefs about sexual morality

53. The importance that I attach to making love with someone

54. How angry I feel about the sexual aspect of my life

55. How enjoyable I feel about my sexuality

56. Times when I wanted to leave a sexual encounter

57. The pregnancy precautions that people ought to take

58. The notion one is answerable for one’s sexual behaviors

59. How I feel about sexual honesty

60. Women’s and men’s reactions to rape

Revised Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (illustrated for the “intimate partner” target only)

Instructions: This survey is concerned with the extent to which you have discussed the following topics about sexuality with an intimate partner. To respond, indicate how much you have discussed these topics with an intimate partner. Use the following scale for your responses:b

1. My past sexual experiences

2. The kinds of touching that sexually arouse me

3. My private sexual fantasies

4. The sexual preferences that I have

5. The types of sexual behaviors I have engaged in

6. The sensations that are sexually exciting to me

7. My “juicy” sexual thoughts

8. What I would desire in a sexual encounter

9. The sexual positions I have tried

10. The types of sexual foreplay that feel arousing to me

11. The sexual episodes that I daydream about

12. The things I enjoy most about sex

13. What sex in an intimate relationship means to me

14. My private beliefs about sexual responsibility

15. Times when sex was distressing for me

16. The times I have pretended to enjoy sex

17. Times when I prefer to refrain from sexual activity

18. What it means to me to have sex with my partner

19. My own ideas about sexual accountability

20. Times when I was pressured to have sex

21. The times I have lied about sexual matters

22. The times when I might not want to have sex

23. What I think and feel about having sex with my partner

24. The notion that one is accountable for one’s sexual behaviors

25. The aspects of sex that bother me

26. How I would feel about sexual dishonesty

27. My ideas about not having sex unless I want to

28. How I feel about abortions

29. My personal views about homosexuals

30. My own ideas about why rapes occur

31. My personal views about people with AIDS

32. What I consider “proper” sexual behavior

33. My beliefs about pregnancy prevention

34. Opinions I have about homosexual relationships

35. What I really feel about rape

36. Concerns that I have about the disease AIDS

37. The sexual behaviors that I consider appropriate

38. How I feel about pregnancy at this time

39. My reactions to working with a homosexual

40. My reactions to rape

41. My feelings about working with someone who has AIDS

42. My personal beliefs about sexual morality

43. How satisfied I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

44. How guilty I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

45. How calm I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

46. How depressed I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

47. How jealous I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

48. How apathetic I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

49. How anxious I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

50. How happy I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

51. How angry I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

52. How afraid I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

53. How pleased I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

54. How shameful I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

55. How serene I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

56. How sad I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

57. How possessive I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

58. How indifferent I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

59. How troubled I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

60. How cheerful I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

61. How mad I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

62. How fearful I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

63. How delighted I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

64. How embarrassed I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

65. How relaxed I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

66. How unhappy I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

67. How suspicious I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

68. How detached I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

69. How worried I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

70. How joyful I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

71. How irritated I feel about the sexual aspects of my life

72. How frightened I feel about the sexual aspects of my life