Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale – SSDS
Measures the degree of threat and difficulty associated with disclosing sexual information across different interpersonal contexts.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale – SSDS was developed by Joseph A. Catania (1986). It is designed to measure Sexual Self-Disclosure / Disclosure Threat. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 19 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Anonymous Questionnaire, Face-to-Face Interview, Private Discussion, Group Discussion, Discussion with Parents.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Anonymous Questionnaire | 1,2 | 2 |
| Face-to-Face Interview | 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 | 8 |
| Private Discussion | 11,12,13,14,15 | 5 |
| Group Discussion | 16,17 | 2 |
| Discussion with Parents | 18,19 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Extremely easy, 2 = Moderately easy, 3 = Somewhat easy, 4 = Somewhat difficult, 5 = Moderately difficult, 6 = Extremely difficult.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 19 to 114. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Threat / High Disclosure Ease: 19 – 50
- Moderate Threat / Moderate Disclosure Ease: 51 – 82
- High Threat / Low Disclosure Ease: 83 – 114
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.93.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.