Psychometric Exploration of the Swedish Translation of the Sexual Orientation Microaggressions Scale (SOMS), and a Commentary on the Validity of the Construct of Microaggressions

The aim of the present study was to assess the psychometric properties of a Swedish translation of the Sexual Orientation Microaggressions Scale (SOMS) in a convenience sample of 267 Swedish LGB+ people (Mean age = 36.41). Testing suggested some strengths in terms of factor structure and 2-week test-retest reliability (ICC > .79). Also, internal consistency (alpha = .80-.91) and convergent validity were supported for most subscales. However, the Assumption of Deviance subscale was associated with low response variability and internal consistency (alpha = .35), and the correlational pattern between the Environmental Microaggressions subscale and mental health variables diverged from the overall trend. Furthermore, measurement invariance between homo- and bisexual participants was not supported for most subscales, and although microaggressions would be theoretically irrelevant to a small comparison sample of heterosexual people (N = 76, Mean age = 40.43), metric invariance of the Environmental Microaggressions subscale was supported in comparison to LGB+ people. We argue that these limitations suggest a restricted applicability of the SOMS in a Swedish context, and this has consequences for the definition and operationalization of the construct of microaggressions as a whole. Therefore, more research on the latent properties of microaggressions in Swedish as well as in other contexts is required.