Development of the Japanese version of the Disclosure Expectations Scale (DES)

This study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the Disclosure Expectations Scale (DES), which assesses anticipated utility and risks of seeking help from a counselor. Following cross-cultural adaptation guidelines, the scale was translated and administered via online surveys to samples of university students and adults in the general population. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the original factor structure, and measurement invariance was established across the two groups. Evidence for construct validity was provided through expected correlations with related constructs, including help-seeking attitudes, help-seeking intentions, help-seeking expectations, and help-seeking anxiety. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were also demonstrated. These findings suggest that the Japanese version of the DES has acceptable reliability and validity for assessing disclosure expectations in help-seeking contexts.