Elements Affecting Disclosure of Abusive Dating Relationships: Attachment Style Sex of Research Participant and Importance of Disclosure Target

This study examined the influence of attachment style, sex of research participant, and relationship importance of disclosure target on the self-disclosure of abuse in dating relationships using a hypothetical dating aggression scenario. The two dependent variables were willingness to disclose and perceived helpfulness of self-disclosure. Research participants were classified according to Bartholomew's model of adult attachment (i.e., secure, preoccupied, dismissing, or fearful). Attachment style of research participants significantly affected perceived helpfulness of self-disclosure. Fearful participants perceived the most helpfulness from disclosure and were the most willing to self-disclose. Sex of research participant did not have a significant effect on willingness to self-disclose or perceived helpfulness of self-disclosure. Male and female research participants showed nearly identical disclosure patterns except that female participants were more affected by the relationship importance of disclosure targets. Female research participants were more willing to self-disclose and perceived more helpfulness from disclosing to important target persons. Female research participants were less willing to self-disclose and perceived less helpfulness from disclosing to unimportant target persons. Relationship importance of disclosure target had significant effects for both willingness to self-disclose and perceived helpfulness of self-disclosure. Research participants were more willing to self-disclose and perceived more helpfulness when disclosing to targets they judged important (significant) as compared to unimportant (non-significant) targets. Overall, the results suggested that attachment style and relationship importance of disclosure target are valuable concepts for understanding self-disclosure patterns. Results also question the relevance of sex of research participant for understanding self-disclosure patterns except when sex of research participant is interacting with importance of disclosure target.