Abstract
Introduction: The Sexual Orientation Microaggression Inventory (SOMI) has been used to measure sexual orientation-based microaggression experiences. However, at 19 items, the SOMI may be difficult to fit into survey batteries where microaggressions are not the primary predictor or the time researchers have with each participant is very limited. Methods: We sought to identify an eight-item short form of the SOMI (SOMI-SF) in a sample of sexual minority (SM) youth (N = 879) and confirm the validity and reliability of the SOMI-SF by administering both versions to separate cohorts of male-assigned (N = 533) and female-assigned (N = 430) at birth SM youth. Data were collected from April 2018 to May 2020. Results: We found high reliability (α > 0.80) and validity (significant association with SM victimization, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and internalized stigma) in all three samples for the SOMI-SF. Conclusions: For researchers looking to conserve time and limit burden, the SOMI-SF is a high-quality option for measuring sexual orientation microaggressions. Policy Implications: The greater ease of administering the SOMI-SF means that sexual orientation microaggressions can be measured in a greater number of contexts. With a growing literature linking these experiences to poorer health outcomes for SM populations, measuring these experiences quickly and accurately can improve our understanding of the mechanisms creating those links and impact policy necessary to alleviate them.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 589-598 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Sexuality Research and Social Policy |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2023 |
Funding
The project described herein was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (grant no. R01HD086170: PI Dr. Sarah Whitton) and a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (grant no. U01DA036939: PI Dr. Brian Mustanski).
Keywords
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Microaggression
- Sexual orientation
- Short form
- Stigma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gender Studies
- Health(social science)
- Sociology and Political Science