Individual differences in Sexual Self-disclosure: The role of Personality and Attachment in Romantic Relationships
Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This thesis offers new insights into the construct of sexual self-disclosure and its relationships with psychological factors such as personality and attachment (i.e., individual differences). Limited studies have been conducted on sexual self-disclosure (i.e., researchers have not made a distinction in how scripts might be affecting the self-disclosures of highly intimate topics, e.g., sexual topics). Therefore, further research may inform how individual differences contribute to the process of sexual self-disclosure in romantic relationships, how intimate interactions (e.g., trust and intimacy) influence such contributions and the relevance of examining this construct independently from general disclosure. Three studies were conducted to address this research question using self-report and interview methodologies. Throughout the studies, attachment avoidance was the consistent predictor of low levels of sexual self-disclosure, while open-mindedness and secure attachment were predictors of higher levels of sexual self-disclosure (SSD). It also appears that the country where individuals live (study 2 and 3) contributes to differences in associations between personality, attachment, and sexual self-disclosure, particularly in the relationships: anxiety-SSD and neuroticism-SSD. Moreover, individuals reported (study 3) that there are also interpersonal factors that affect their willingness to communicate personal sexual information, like perceived partner responsiveness and intimacy. Overall, these findings suggest that sexual self-disclosure is conceptually different from self-disclosure and must be treated independently. It emphasizes the relevance of conducting further research in order to create a uniform definition, and thus, create consistency in its measurement among literature. This thesis also contributes to the limited understanding of how intrapersonal (i.e., personality and attachment) and interpersonal factors (i.e., perceived partner responsiveness and intimacy) relate to the process of sexual self-disclosure in romantic relationships.
Author: Beatriz Lopez Portillo
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3013120100