Self-Disclosure and Psychological Well-Being in Chinese Adolescents: Exploring the Role of Self-Perception

Self-disclosure is a fundamental aspect of human communication, particularly important for adolescents. As adolescents navigate the gradual transition from parental reliance to individual autonomy, they increasingly turn to their peers as trusted confidants. Although self-disclosure has been associated with positive psychological outcomes among adolescents, research remains limited, inconsistent, and outdated, particularly in the Majority World.

This study examined the direct relations between self-disclosure and psychological well-being among 192 Chinese adolescents and explored the indirect associations via self-perception. Adolescents (M_age = 13.18 years, SD = 1.1, 57.3% girls) reported their self-disclosure behaviors with best friends, self-perception, and psychological well-being.

Results showed that Chinese adolescents reported a medium to high level of disclosure with their best friends, with no significant sex differences. Adolescents disclosed the most on school-related topics and the least about boy-girl relationships, with girls perceiving certain topics as more intimate than boys. Consistent with existing literature, self-disclosure was positively associated with overall psychological well-being (particularly the subfactors of self-acceptance, positive relationships, and personal growth). The indirect relation between self-disclosure and psychological well-being via perceived social competence was significant.

These findings underscore the important role of self-disclosure in supporting to foster adolescents' mental well-being and reveal enhanced social competence as one potential pathway linking the two. Overall, the study confirms the links between self-disclosure and youth well-being and adds to our understanding of disclosure behaviors among Chinese adolescents.