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The Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS)
by
Dr. William E. Snell, Jr.

This page shows a copy of the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS).

 

Scale # 1 (The Revised Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale)
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:
(1) = I HAVE NOT DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC WITH AN INTIMATE PARTNER.
(2) = I HAVE SLIGHTLY DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC WITH AN INTIMATE PARTNER.
(3) = I HAVE MODERATELY DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC WITH AN INTIMATE PARTNER.
(4) = I HAVE MOSTLY DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC WITH AN INTIMATE PARTNER.
(5) = I HAVE FULLY DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC WITH AN INTIMATE PARTNER.
1. My past sexual experiences...................................................... 1.____
2. The kinds of touching that sexually arouse me............................ 2.____
3. My private sexual fantasies...................................................... 3.____
4. The sexual preferences that I have............................................ 4.____
5. The types of sexual behaviors I have engaged in......................... 5.____
6. The sensations that are sexually exciting to me.......................... 6.____
7. My "juicy" sexual thoughts................................................... 7.____
8. What I would desire in a sexual encounter................................ 8.____
9. The sexual positions I have tried............................................ 9.____
10. The types of sexual foreplay that feel arousing to me............... 10.____
11. The sexual episodes that I daydream about........................... 11.____
12. The things I enjoy most about sex..................................... 12.____
13. What sex in an intimate relationship means to me.................. 13.____
14. My private beliefs about sexual responsibility....................... 14.____
15. Times when sex was distressing for me............................... 15.____
16. The times I have pretended to enjoy sex.............................. 16.____
17. Times when I prefer to refrain from sexual activity................ 17.____
18. What it means to me to have sex with my partner.................. 18.____
19. My own ideas about sexual accountability.......................... 19.____
20. Times when I was pressured to have sex............................. 20.____
21. The times I have lied about sexual matters........................... 21.____
22. The times when I might not want to have sex....................... 22.____
23. What I think and feel about having sex with my partner........... 23.____
24. The notion that one is accountable for one's sexual behaviors.... 24.____
25. The aspects of sex that bother me..................................... 25.____
26. How I would feel about sexual dishonesty.......................... 26.____
27. My ideas about not having sex unless I want to..................... 27.____
28. How I feel about abortions.............................................. 28.____
29. My personal views about homosexuals............................... 29.____
30. My own ideas about why rapes occur.................................. 30.____
31. My personal views about people with AIDS.......................... 31.____
32. What I consider "proper" sexual behavior............................. 32.____
33. My beliefs about pregnancy prevention................................. 33.____
34. Opinions I have about homosexual relationships........................ 34.____
35. What I really feel about rape............................................... 35.____
36. Concerns that I have bout the disease AIDS............................. 36.____
37. The sexual behaviors that I consider appropriate........................ 37.____
38. How I feel about pregnancy at this time................................... 38.____
39. My reactions to working with a homosexual............................ 39.____
40. My reactions to rape............................................................ 40.____
41. My feelings about working with someone who has AIDS............. 41.____
42. My personal beliefs about sexual morality................................. 42.____
43. How satisfied I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............... 43.____
44. How guilty I feel about the sexual aspects of me life................... 44.____
45. How calm I feel about the sexual aspects of me life.................... 45.____
46. How depressed I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............ 46.____
47. How jealous I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............... 47.____
48. How apathetic I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............ 48.____
49. How anxious I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............. 49.____
50. How happy I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............... 50.____
51. How angry I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............... 51.____
52. How afraid I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............... 52.____
53. How pleased I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............... 53.____
54. How shameful I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............ 54.____
55. How serene I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............... 55.____
56. How sad I feel about the sexual aspects of me life................... 56.____
57. How possessive I feel about the sexual aspects of me life.......... 57.____
58. How indifferent I feel about the sexual aspects of me life.......... 58.____
59. How troubled I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............ 59.____
60. How cheerful I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............. 60.____
61. How mad I feel about the sexual aspect of my life. ................ 61.____
62. How fearful I feel about the sexual aspects of me life. ............ 62.____
63. How delighted I feel about the sexual aspects of me life........... 63.____
64. How embarrassed I feel about the sexual aspects of me life..... 64.____
65. How relaxed I feel about the sexual aspects of me life. ............. 65.____
66. How unhappy I feel about the sexual aspects of me life............. 66.____
67. How suspicious I feel about the sexual aspects of me life.......... 67.____
68. How detached I feel about the sexual aspects of me life........... 68.____
69. How worried I feel about the sexual aspects of me life. .......... 69.____
70. How joyful I feel about the sexual aspects of me life. ............. 70.____
71. How irritated I feel about the sexual aspects of me life. ......... 71.____
72. How frightened I feel about the sexual aspects of me life. ........ 72.____
Scale # 2 (The 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 which represent the following individuals: (A) your mother, (B) your father, (C) 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:
(1) = I HAVE NOT DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC:
(2) = I HAVE SLIGHTLY DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC:
(3) = I HAVE MODERATELY DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC:
(4) = I HAVE MOSTLY DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC:
(5) = I HAVE FULLY DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC:
.......(A) WITH YOUR MOTHER.
........(B) WITH YOUR FATHER.
........(C) WITH YOUR BEST MALE FRIEND.
........(D) WITH YOUR BEST FEMALE FRIEND.
........(A).... (B)....... (C)....... (D)
1. My past sexual experiences........................................................... 1.__ 61.__ 121.__ 181.__
2. The things that sexually arouse me................................................ 2.__ 62.__ 122.__ 182.__
3. My imaginary sexual encounters................................................... 3.__ 63.__ 123.__ 183.__
4. The sexual behaviors which I think people ought to exhibit............... 4.__ 64.__ 124.__ 184.__
5. What sex means to me................................................................ 5.__ 65.__ 125.__ 185.__
6. How guilty I feel about sex........................................................... 6.__ 66.__ 126.__ 186.__
7. How satisfied I feel about the sexual aspects of my life....................... 7.__ 67.__ 127.__ 187.__
8. Times when sex was distressing for me.......................................... 8.__ 68.__ 128.__ 188.__
9. What I think about birth control................................................... 9.__ 69.__ 129.__ 189.__
10. My private notion of sexual responsibility................................... 10.__ 70.__ 130.__ 190.__
11. The times I have faked orgasm.................................................. 11.__ 71.__ 131.__ 191.__
12. My private views about rape..................................................... 12.__ 72.__ 132.__ 192.__
13. The types of sexual behaviors I've engaged in............................... 13.__ 73.__ 133.__ 193.__
14. The sexual activities that "feel good" to me.................................. 14.__ 74.__ 134.__ 194.__
15. my private sexual fantasies......................................................... 15.__ 75.__ 135.__ 195.__
16. What I consider "proper" sexual behaviors................................... 16.__ 76.__ 136.__ 196.__
17. What it means to me to make love together with someone............. 17.__ 77.__ 137.__ 197.__
18. How anxious I feel about my sex life......................................... 18.__ 78.__ 138.__ 198.__
19. How content I feel about the sexual aspects of my life.................... 19.__ 79.__ 139.__ 199.__
20. Times when I had undesired sex................................................ 20.__ 80.__ 140.__ 200.__
21. How I feel about abortions........................................................ 21.__ 81.__ 141.__ 201.__
22. The responsibility one ought to assume for one's sexuality............. 22.__ 82.__ 142.__ 202.__
23. The times I have pretended to enjoy sex.................................... 23.__ 83.__ 143.__ 203.__
24. The "truths and falsehoods" about rape.................................... 24.__ 84.__ 144.__ 204.__
25. The number of times I have had sex........................................... 25.__ 85.__ 145.__ 205.__
26. The behaviors that are sexually exciting to me........................ 26.__ 86.__ 146.__ 206.__
27. My sexually exciting imaginary thoughts.................................. 27.__ 87.__ 147.__ 207.__
28. The sexual conduct that people ought to exhibit..................... 28.__ 88.__ 148.__ 208.__
29. What I think and feel about having sex with someone............ 29.__ 89.__ 149.__ 209.__
30. How depressed I feel about my own sexuality...................... 30.__ 90.__ 150.__ 210.__
31. How happy I feel about my sexuality................................... 31.__ 91.__ 151.__ 211.__
32. Times when I was pressured to have sex............................. 32.__ 92.__ 152.__ 212.__
33. How I feel about pregnancy..................................................... 33.__ 93.__ 153.__ 213.__
34. My own ideas about sexual accountability............................ 34.__ 94.__ 154.__ 214.__
35. The times I have lied about sexual matters............................. 35.__ 95.__ 155.__ 215.__
36. What women and men really feel about rape......................... 36.__ 96.__ 156.__ 216.__
37. The sexual positions I've tried.................................................. 37.__ 97.__ 157.__ 217.__
38. The sensations that are sexually arousing to me.................. 38.__ 98.__ 158.__ 218.__
39. My "juicy" sexual thoughts..................................................... 39.__ 99.__ 159.__ 219.__
40. My attitudes about sexual behaviors.................................... 40.__ 100.__ 160.__ 220.__
41. The meaning that sexual intercourse has for me...................... 41.__ 101.__ 161.__ 221.__
42. How frustrated I feel about my sex life................................... 42.__ 102.__ 162.__ 222.__
43. How much joy that sex gives me.............................................. 43.__ 103.__ 163.__ 223.__
44. The aspects of sex that bother me............................................ 44.__ 104.__ 164.__ 224.__
45. My private beliefs about pregnancy prevention........................ 45.__ 105.__ 165.__ 225.__
46. The idea of having to answer for one's sexual conduct................. 46.__ 106.__ 166.__ 226.__
47. What I think about sexual disloyalty......................................... 47.__ 107.__ 167.__ 227.__
48. Women's and men's reactions to rape....................................... 48.__ 108.__ 168.__ 228.__
49. The places and times-of-day when I've had sex.......................... 49.__ 109.__ 169.__ 229.__
50. The types of sexual foreplay that feel arousing to me................. 50.__ 110.__ 170.__ 230.__
51. The sexual episodes that I daydream about............................... 51.__ 111.__ 171.__ 231.__
52. My personal beliefs about sexual morality................................ 52.__ 112.__ 172.__ 232.__
53. The importance that I attach to making love with someone....... 53.__ 113.__ 173.__ 233.__
54. How angry I feel about the sexual aspect of my life..................... 54.__ 114.__ 174.__ 234.__
55. How enjoyable I feel about my sexuality................................... 55.__ 115.__ 175.__ 235.__
56. Times when I wanted to leave a sexual encounter................... 56.__ 116.__ 176.__ 236.__
57. The pregnancy precautions that people ought to take................. 57.__ 117.__ 177.__ 237.__
58. The notion one is answerable for one's sexual behaviors.............. 58.__ 118.__ 178.__ 238.__
59. How I feel about sexual honesty................................................. 59.__ 119.__ 179.__ 239.__
60. Women's and men's reactions to rape........................................ 60.__ 120.__ 180.__ 240.__
Copyright - 1989
Scoring Instructions for 
the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS).
The Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS) 
by 
William E. Snell, Jr., Southeast Missouri State University.
Address all correspondence to:
 William E. Snell, Jr., (PHONE: 573-651-2447; FAX: 573-651-2176), 
Department of Psychology,
Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701.
Address INTERNET E-MAIL to: wesnell@SEMOVM.SEMO.EDU.

Purpose
        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 Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS) consists of 12 subscales that measure the following sexual topics (Snell & Belk, 1987): (1) sexual behavior; (2) sexual sensations; (3) sexual fantasies; (4) sexual attitudes; (5) the meaning of sex; (6) negative sexual affect ; (7) positive sexual affect; (8) sexual concerns; (9) birth control; (10) sexual responsibility; (11) sexual dishonesty; and (12) 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 willingness to discuss the following sexual topics with an intimate partner (reported in study 3 by Snell et al., 1989): (1) sexual behaviors; (2) sexual sensations; (3) sexual fantasies; (4) sexual preferences; (5) meaning of sex; (6) sexual accountability; (7) distressing sex; (8) sexual dishonesty; (9) sexual delay preferences; (10) abortion and pregnancy; (11) homosexuality; (12) rape; (13) AIDS; (14) sexual morality; (15) sexual satisfaction; (16) sexual guilt; (17) sexual calmness; (18) sexual depression; (19) sexual jealousy; (20) sexual apathy; (21) sexual anxiety; (22) sexual happiness; (23) sexual anger; and (24) sexual fear.
Description
        The initial version of the SSDS consists of 120 items that form 12 separate 5-item subscales for each of 2 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 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 Revised Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (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 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 3 items on each subscale 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 (shown later) 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 original Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS) consists of twelve (12) subscales, each containing five (5) separate items. The labels and items for each of these subscales are: (1). Sexual Behavior (Items 1, 13, 25, 37, 49); (2). Sexual Sensations (Items 2, 14, 26, 38, 50); (3). Sexual Fantasies (Items 3, 15, 27, 39, 51); (4). Sexual Attitudes (Items 4, 16, 28, 40, 52); (5). Meaning of Sex (Items 5, 17, 29, 41, 53); (6). Negative Sexual Affect (Items 6, 18, 30, 42, 54); (7). Positive Sexual Affect (Items 7, 19, 31, 43, 55); (8). Sexual Concerns (Items 8, 20, 32, 44, 56); (9). Birth Control (Items 9, 21, 33, 45, 57); (10). Sexual Responsibility (Items 10, 22, 34, 46, 58); (11). Sexual Dishonesty (Items 11, 23, 35, 47, 59); and (12). 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 Revised Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS-R) consists of 24 subscales, each containing 3 separate items: (1) sexual behaviors (items 1,5, 9); (2) sexual sensations (items 2, 6, 10); (3) sexual fantasies (items 3, 7, 11); (4) sexual preferences (items 4, 8, 12); (5) meaning of sex (items 13, 18, 23); (6) sexual accountability (items 14, 19, 24); (7) distressing sex (items 15, 20, 25); (8) sexual dishonesty (items 16, 21, 26); (9) sexual delay preferences (items 17, 22, 27); (10) abortion and pregnancy (items 28, 33, 38); (11) homosexuality (items 29, 34, 39); (12) rape (items 30, 35, 40); (13) AIDS (items 31, 36, 41); (14) sexual morality (items 32, 37, 42); (15) sexual satisfaction (items 43, 53, 63); (16) sexual guilt (items 44, 54, 64); (17) sexual calmness (items 45, 55, 65); (18) sexual depression (items 46, 56, 66); (19) sexual jealousy (items 47, 57, 67); (20) sexual apathy (items 48, 58, 68); (21) sexual anxiety (items 49, 59, 69); (22) sexual happiness (items 50, 60, 70); (23) sexual anger (items 51, 61, 71); and (24) 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 Revised Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (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 Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS and SSDS-R) in research investigations.
Validity
        Snell et al. (1989) report that women's and men's responses to the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (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 Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale 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.
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.
    • Permission is granted to individuals to use
     the Sexual Self-Disclosure Scale (SSDS) for research purposes.
    Permission granted by William E. Snell, Jr. on February 17, 1997 (please e-mail to confirm).

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    This site was last updated on Sunday, June 17, 2007 .
    Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, SE Missouri State University
    Send comments and inquires to wesnell@semovm.semo.edu

    Copyright @ 1997 to Dr. William E. Snell, Jr.