Ethnic and Acculturation Differences in Self-Disclosure

Abstract

Summary Self-disclosure patterns of Anglo and Mexican Americans were analyzed according to frequency of reported self-disclosure, preferred topics (whether about taste, attitude, personality, or money) and preferred targets (whether to mother, father, male friend, or female friend). Administrator ethnicity and gender were varied so that the interaction of these examiner variables with S gender and ethnicity could be analyzed. Further, the relationship between degree of acculturation and reported self-disclosure was investigated. Results revealed that females reported significantly more disclosure than males. Interestingly, no overall ethnic differences in reported self-disclosure were obtained, although there were several significant administrator × S ethnicity interactions. Acculturation was significantly correlated to reported self-disclosure in some instances.