Development and Validation of a Psychological Sense of LGBT Community Scale

Abstract

The focus of this study was the development and validation of a Psychological Sense of LGBT Community Scale (PSOC‐LGBT), designed to assess the degree to which self‐identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons report feelings of belonging to and being able to depend on their local LGBT community, as well as the degree to which they believe an LGBT community exists in their local area. The scale is a modification of an existing Psychological Sense of Community Scale (PSOCS) that was designed for gay and bisexual men (Proescholdbell et al., 2005). A total of 356 participants completed either an Internet‐based or a paper survey. Exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency, and validity coefficients supported the use and continued development of the modified instrument. Implications for future research and application are discussed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Revisiting the Sense of Community Index: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Invariance Test

“…On the other hand, Peterson et al () have developed a scale that supports McMillan and Chavis’ () four‐dimensional PSC model, and Wombacher, Tagg, Bürgi, and MacBryde () and Barati et al () have provided strong support for the Peterson et al scale. Likewise, Lin and Israel's () exploratory approach actually revealed a model consistent with McMillan and Chavis’ original model. Also, Mannarini and Fedi's (2009) qualitative study revealed dimensions of PSC that support McMillan and Chavis’ model.…”

“…A very important exception is Peterson et al's () 8‐item Brief Sense of Community Scale (BSCS), which was tested and confirmed in Wombacher et al (). Barati, Samah, & Ahmad () provided further evidence of the BSCS's validity by showing it is correlated with citizen participation. Similarly, Lin & Israel's () effort to test Proescholdbell et al's () 17‐item sense of community scale falls into the same category as Chipuer and Pretty (1999). Because Proescholdbell et al offered a specific model, Lin and Israel should have used a confirmatory rather than an exploratory approach, and so have not really attempted a replication of Proescholdbell et al's model.…”

“…While Lin and Israel's findings are intriguing, supporting as they do the McMillan and Chavis () four‐factor model, they offer yet another unique measure of PSOC in need of further testing. Townley & Kloos () extended Long and Perkins’ () brief sense of community index (BSCI—not to be confused with Peterson et al's 2008 BSCS) to include items measuring community acceptance of individuals with serious mental illness. Unfortunately, like Lin & Israel (), they did not test the BSCI on its own, but only with the included items.…”

The Science of Conducting Research With LGBT Older Adults- An Introduction to Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study (NHAS)

“…The functional property of the social network focuses on living arrangement, contact frequency with various types of social ties, and aspects of providing or receiving informal caregiving. We also include measures of general social participation (e.g., spiritual or religious activities, club meetings or group activities, and volunteering) as well as LGBT-specific community engagement including sense of belonging, participating in social activities and community activism, and contributing to the community (Frost & Meyer, 2012;Lin & Israel, 2012).…”

For Better or for Worse? A Systematic Review of the Evidence on Social Media Use and Depression Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Minorities (Preprint)

“…The higher rates of depression and psychological distress among LGB persons may be attributed in part to experiencing discrimination, harassment, and victimization because of their sexual orientation. The findings that SMU may be a protective factor articulates the argument of sense of LGBTQ community, which suggests that belonging to a larger community may buffer effects of marginalization [52,53]. In terms of SM, being connected to other LGBTQ individuals may reduce the psychological effects of discrimination, harassment, and victimization these persons experience in the social environment.…”