Sexual Self-Disclosure Styles: Understanding Differences in Discussing Sensitive Sexual Topics

This study explored sexual self-disclosure styles. Using an online self-report survey, participants (n = 428) reported levels of conversational goals, disclosure-related variables, and likelihood to disclose a sexual topic to their romantic partner. Cluster analysis resulted in three distinct styles of sexual self-disclosure. Functional disclosers have a strong need to disclose and were the most likely to disclose. Relationally constrained disclosers were hesitant to disclose and worried about the risks of disclosure. Finally, seasoned disclosers reported historically positive disclosures and felt comfortable disclosing.