The relationship between self-disclosure and intimacy relationship satisfaction among Chinese lesbian women: serial mediating role of perceived partner responsiveness and feeling appreciated

This study examined how self-disclosure was associated with relationship satisfaction among Chinese lesbian women and tested whether perceived partner responsiveness (PPR) and feeling appreciated functioned as sequential mediators. Using convenience sampling, 332 Chinese lesbian women in intimate relationships were recruited between 2024 and 2025 and completed anonymous questionnaires. Self-disclosure significantly predicted PPR (β = 0.510, p < .001). PPR significantly predicted feeling appreciated (β = 0.690, p < .001) and relationship satisfaction (β = 0.526, p < .001), and feeling appreciated significantly predicted relationship satisfaction (β = 0.239, p < .001). In contrast, the direct effects of self-disclosure on feeling appreciated (β = 0.031, p > .05) and relationship satisfaction (β = 0.032, p > .05) were not significant. Bootstrap analyses (5,000 resamples) showed a significant indirect effect through PPR (effect = 0.248, 95% CI [0.161, 0.361]) and a significant serial indirect effect through PPR and feeling appreciated (effect = 0.078, 95% CI [0.022, 0.133]), whereas the indirect effect through feeling appreciated alone was not significant. These findings suggest that self-disclosure is linked to relationship satisfaction primarily through responsive and affirming interaction processes, highlighting partner responsiveness and feeling appreciated as potential areas of focus in culturally sensitive counselling with Chinese lesbian women.