Development and Validation of the LGBTQ+ POC Microaggressions Scale-Brief (LGBTQ+ PCMS-B)

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people of color (POC) have multiple stigmatized identities that may result in unique intersectional forms of discrimination based on race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) People of Color Microaggressions Scale (Balsam et al., 2011) is a psychometrically validated measurement tool used to study these experiences, yet at 18 items its length may preclude broader use in research and clinical practice. In a sample of 343 LGBTQ+ POC adults, the present study identifies and validates a briefer, 12-item version called the LGBTQ+ POC Microaggressions Scale-Brief (LGBTQ+ PCMS-B) and compares psychometric properties of both scales. Results from confirmatory factor analysis showed that the LGBTQ+ PCMS-B demonstrated better fit to the data than the LGBT-PCMS. There was evidence of convergent, criterion-related, and incremental validity, as well as sufficient reliability for both measures. Tests of measurement invariance showed that the LGBTQ+ PCMS-B is valid for use across different race/ ethnicity, gender, and sexual identities, whereas the LGBT-PCMS is valid for use only across different racial/ethnic and sexual identities. Thus, the LGBTQ+ PCMS-B provides a reliable, valid, and accessible option for assessing intersectional minority stress in LGBTQ+ POC populations.