Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale

Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale‌‌‌

WILLIAM E. SNELL, JR.,1 Southeast Missouri State University

The literature on human sexuality emphasizes the need for people to discuss the sexual aspects of themselves with others. Snell, Belk, Papini, and Clark (1989) examined women’s and men’s willingness to discuss a variety of sexual topics with parents and friends by developing an objective self-report instrument, the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS). The first version of the SSDS consists of 12 sub- scales that measure the following sexual topics (Snell & Belk, 1987): sexual behavior, sexual sensations, sexual fantasies, sexual attitudes, the meaning of sex, negative sexual affect, positive sexual affect, sexual concerns, birth control, sexual responsibility, sexual dishonesty, and rape. In another study reported by Snell et al. (1989), women’s and men’s willingness to discuss a variety of sexual topics with an intimate partner was examined by extending the SSDS to include a greater variety of sexual topics. The Revised Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS-R) consists of 24 three-item subscales measuring people’s willing- ness to discuss the following sexual topics with an intimate partner (reported in Study 3 by Snell et al., 1989): sexual behaviors, sexual sensations, sexual fantasies, sexual preferences, meaning of sex, sexual accountability, distressing sex, sexual dishonesty, sexual delay preferences, abortion and pregnancy, homosexuality, rape, AIDS, sexual moral- ity, sexual satisfaction, sexual guilt, sexual calmness, sexual depression, sexual jealousy, sexual apathy, sexual anxiety, sexual happiness, sexual anger, and sexual fear.

Description

The initial version of the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale‌‌‌ SSDS consists of 120 items that form 12 separate five-item subscales for each of two disclosure targets (male and female therapists). To respond to this version of the SSDS, individuals are asked to indicate how willing they would be to discuss the SSDS sexual topics with the disclosure targets. A 5-point Likert-type scale (scored 0 to 4) is used to measure the responses: (0) I am not at all willing to discuss this topic with this person, (1) I am slightly willing to discuss this topic with this person, (2) I am moderately willing to discuss this topic with this person, (3) I am almost totally willing to discuss this topic with this person, and (4) I am totally willing to discuss this topic with this person. Subscale scores are created for each disclosure target person by summing the 5 items on each subscale. Higher scores thus indicate greater willingness to disclose a particular SSDS sexual topic with a particular person.

The SSDS-R used by Snell et al. (1989) consists of 72 items that form 24 three-item subscales for the disclosure target (i.e., an intimate partner). In responding to the SSDS- R, individuals are asked to indicate how much they are willing to discuss the SSDS-R topics with an intimate partner. A 5-point Likert-type scale is used to collected data on the subjects’ responses, with each item being scored from 0 to 4: (0) I would not be willing to discuss this topic with an intimate partner, (1) I would be slightly willing to discuss this topic with an intimate partner, (2) I would be moderately willing to discuss this topic with an intimate partner, (3) I would be mostly willing to discuss this topic with an intimate partner, and (4) I would be completely willing to discuss this topic with an intimate partner. In order to create SSDS-R subscale scores, the three items on each sub- scale are summed (no items are reverse scored). Higher scores thus correspond to greater willingness to discuss the SSDS-R sexual topics with an intimate partner.

The sample version of the SSDS-R in the exhibit is an example of how the SSDS-R may be modified for use with different target persons (e.g., mother, father, best female friend, best male friend).

Response Mode and Timing

Respondents indicate their responses typically on a computer scan sheet by darkening in a response from A to E. Alternatively, responses to the SSDS can be written directly on the questionnaire itself. Usually, 20–30 minutes are needed to complete the SSDS.

Scoring

The SSDS consists of 12 subscales, each containing five separate items. The labels and items for each of these sub- scales are: (a) Sexual Behavior (Items 1, 13, 25, 37, 49); Sexual Sensations (Items 2, 14, 26, 38, 50); (c) Sexual Fantasies (Items 3, 15, 27, 39, 51); (d) Sexual Attitudes (Items 4, 16, 28, 40, 52); (e) Meaning of Sex (Items 5, 17, 29, 41, 53); (f) Negative Sexual Affect (Items 6, 18, 30, 42, 54); (g) Positive Sexual Affect (Items 7, 19, 31, 43, 55); (h) Sexual Concerns (Items 8, 20, 32, 44, 56); (i) Birth Control (Items 9, 21, 33, 45, 57); (j) Sexual Responsibility (Items 10, 22, 34, 46, 58); (k) Sexual Dishonesty (Items 11, 23, 35, 47, 59); and (l) Rape (Items 12, 24, 36, 48, 60). The items are coded so that A = 0; B = 1; C = 2; D = 3; and E = 4. The five items on each subscale are then summed, so that higher scores correspond to greater sexual self-disclosure.

The SSDS-R consists of 24 subscales, each containing three separate items: (a) Sexual Behaviors (Items 1, 5, 9); (b) Sexual Sensations (Items 2, 6, 10); (c) Sexual Fantasies (Items 3, 7, 11); (d) Sexual Preferences (Items 4, 8, 12); (e) Meaning of Sex (Items 13, 18, 23); (f) Sexual Accountability (Items 14, 19, 24); (g) Distressing Sex (Items 15, 20, 25); (h) Sexual Dishonesty (Items 16, 21, 26); (i) Sexual Delay Preferences (Items 17, 22, 27); (j) Abortion and Pregnancy (Items 28, 33, 38); (k) Homosexuality (Items 29, 34, 39); (l) Rape (Items 30, 35, 40); (m) AIDS (Items 31, 36, 41); (n) Sexual Morality (Items 32, 37, 42); (o) Sexual Satisfaction (Items 43, 53, 63); (p) Sexual Guilt (Items 44, 54, 64); (q) Sexual Calmness (Items 45, 55, 65); (r) Sexual Depression (Items 46, 56, 66); (s) Sexual Jealousy (Items 47, 57, 67); (t) Sexual Apathy (Items 48, 58, 68); (u) Sexual Anxiety (Items 49, 59, 69); (v) Sexual Happiness (Items 50, 60, 70); (w) Sexual Anger (Items 51, 61, 71); and (x) Sexual Fear (Items 52, 62, 72).

Reliability

The internal consistency of the 12 subscales on the original SSDS was determined by calculating Cronbach alpha coefficients. These alphas ranged from a low of .83 to a high of .93 (average = .90) for the female therapist, and from a low of .84 to a high of .94 (average = .92) for the male therapist. The reliability coefficients for the SSDS-R ranged from a low of .59 to a high of .91 (average = .81). These reliability coefficients were all sufficiently high to justify using either version of the scale in research investigations.

Validity

Snell et al. (1989) reported that women’s and men’s responses to the SSDS varied as a function of the disclosure recipient and the content of the sexual disclosure. Women indicated that they were more willing to discuss the topics on the SSDS with a female than a male therapist. Also, it was found that people’s responses to the SSDS-R varied as a function of respondent gender and sexual topic.

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

aThe columns are not shown here to conserve space.

bThe scale is the same as that for the SSDS except that “with an intimate partner” follows each descriptor.

References

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.

Related terms:

  1. The Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS)
  2. Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale
  3. Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale
  4. The Masculine and Feminine Self-Disclosure Scale (MFSDS)
  5. The Emotional Self-Disclosure Scale (ESDS)
  6. The Emotional Self-Disclosure Scale (ESDS)
  7. Emotional Self-Disclosure Scale (ESDS)
  8. Self-disclosure Index
  9. Self-Disclosure
  10. Disclosure Reciprocity