Relationships Between Self-Disclosure to Friends and Depression in Japanese University Students: Focus on Contents of Self-Disclosure and Responses of Recipients

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between university students’ self-disclosure to their friends, receptive responses from their friends, and depression, based on the depth of the content of self-disclosure. We conducted a longitudinal survey of university students recruited through an internet survey service. Participants were surveyed for one month at two time points. Correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses was conducted using data from 350 participants who responded at both time points. The results showed that those who were more likely to receive a receptive response from their friends were more likely to engage in more profound levels of self-disclosure, such as talking about negative characteristics and abilities. Additionally, receiving a receptive response from friends after engaging in more profound levels of self-disclosure results in fewer depressive symptoms. However, there was a risk of depressive symptoms worsening when deep-level self-disclosure did not elicit a receptive response from friends. Therefore, deep-level self-disclosure should be encouraged and the appropriate skills to obtain receptive responses from others should be developed.