Masculine and Feminine Self-Disclosure Scale (MFSDS)
Measures an individual's willingness to self-disclose information related to masculine and feminine traits and behaviors to others.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Masculine and Feminine Self-Disclosure Scale (MFSDS) was developed by William E. Snell, Jr. (1986). It is designed to measure Willingness to self-disclose gender-stereotyped topics. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 42 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Masculine Trait Scale, Masculine Behavior Scale, Feminine Trait Scale, Feminine Behavior Scale, Global Masculinity Scale, Global Femininity Scale.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine Trait Scale | 1,6,21,25,30,32,35 | 7 |
| Masculine Behavior Scale | 3,11,22,23,27,34,40 | 7 |
| Feminine Trait Scale | 5,12,14,17,24,33,37 | 7 |
| Feminine Behavior Scale | 2,10,13,15,29,31,38 | 7 |
| Global Masculinity Scale | 41 | 1 |
| Global Femininity Scale | 42 | 1 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not at all willing to discuss this topic, 1 = Slightly willing to discuss this topic, 2 = Moderately willing to discuss this topic, 3 = Very willing to discuss this topic, 4 = Totally willing to discuss this topic.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 28. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low willingness to disclose: 0 – 7
- Moderate-low willingness to disclose: 8 – 14
- Moderate-high willingness to disclose: 15 – 21
- High willingness to disclose: 22 – 28
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.