Self-disclosure patterns of college students and their gender-differences in the patterns

Abstract

Self-disclosure patterns of adolescents were examined. Subjects (105 male and 159 female college students) were requested to complete the questionnaire on self-disclosure of 11 different aspects of self to four target-persons (father, mother, the best friend of same sex, the best friend of opposite sex). The following results were found. Both male and female showed the highest self-disclosure to the best friend of same sex, while the lowest to father. But sex differences were found in regard to both overall extent and pattern of self-disclosure. Female disclosed significantly more than male, especially to mother. Although male put the focus of self-disclosure on only the best friend of same sex, female put it on both the best friend of same sex and mother. Moreover, the subjects tend to vary the extent of self-disclosure with respect to the category to which each item about the self belonged. There was the interaction among sex, target-persons, and aspects of self.