Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS)
Measures an individual's willingness to discuss various sexual topics with different target persons.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS) was developed by William E. Snell, Jr., Sharyn S. Belk, Dennis R. Papini, and Stephen G. Clark (1989). It is designed to measure Sexual Self-Disclosure. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 60 items organized into 12 factors/subscales: Sexual Behavior, Sexual Sensations, Sexual Fantasies, Sexual Attitudes, Meaning of Sex, Negative Sexual Affect, Positive Sexual Affect, Sexual Concerns, Birth Control, Sexual Responsibility, Sexual Dishonesty, Rape.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual Behavior | 1,13,25,37,49 | 5 |
| Sexual Sensations | 2,14,26,38,50 | 5 |
| Sexual Fantasies | 3,15,27,39,51 | 5 |
| Sexual Attitudes | 4,16,28,40,52 | 5 |
| Meaning of Sex | 5,17,29,41,53 | 5 |
| Negative Sexual Affect | 6,18,30,42,54 | 5 |
| Positive Sexual Affect | 7,19,31,43,55 | 5 |
| Sexual Concerns | 8,20,32,44,56 | 5 |
| Birth Control | 9,21,33,45,57 | 5 |
| Sexual Responsibility | 10,22,34,46,58 | 5 |
| Sexual Dishonesty | 11,23,35,47,59 | 5 |
| Rape | 12,24,36,48,60 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Have not discussed this topic, 1 = Have slightly discussed this topic, 2 = Have moderately discussed this topic, 3 = Have mostly discussed this topic, 4 = Have fully discussed this topic.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 20. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low willingness to disclose: 0 – 6
- Moderate willingness to disclose: 7 – 13
- High willingness to disclose: 14 – 20
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach alphas ranged from .83 to .94 (average = .90 – .92).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 25 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.