Exploring the Validity and Statistical Utility of a Racism Scale Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men

Abstract

The primary purpose of this two-phased study was to examine the structural validity and statistical utility of a racism scale specific to Black men who have sex with men (MSM) who resided in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area and Baltimore, Maryland. Phase I involved pretesting a 10-item racism measure with 20 Black MSM. Based on pretest findings, the scale was adapted into a 21-item racism scale for use in collecting data on 166 respondents in Phase II. Exploratory factor analysis of the 21-item racism scale resulted in a 19-item, two-factor solution. The two factors or subscales were the following: General Racism and Relationships and Racism. Confirmatory factor analysis was used in testing construct validity of the factored racism scale. Specifically, the two racism factors were combined with three homophobia factors into a confirmatory factor analysis model. Based on a summary of the fit indices, both comparative and incremental were equal to .90, suggesting an adequate convergence of the racism and homophobia dimensions into a single social oppression construct. Statistical utility of the two racism subscales was demonstrated when regression analysis revealed that the gay-identified men versus bisexual-identified men in the sample were more likely to experience increased racism within the context of intimate relationships and less likely to be exposed to repeated experiences of general racism. Overall, the findings in this study highlight the importance of continuing to explore the psychometric properties of a racism scale that accounts for the unique psychosocial concerns experienced by Black MSM.

Initial Development and Validation of the Brief Internalized Heterosexist Racism Scale for Gay and Bisexual Black Men: A Measure of Internalized Heterosexist Racism

“…However, it is crucial to contextualize these findings. While the variability explained by internalized heterosexist racism (IHR-GBBM) in both anxiety symptoms and substance use coping may be considered small according to conventional standards (Cohen, 1988 ), it is important to note that racism and heterosexism, in their structural, interpersonal, and internalized forms, are associated with adverse health outcomes and maladaptive coping behaviors among gay and bisexual Black men (Ayala et al, 2012 ; Dyer et al, 2013 ; English et al, 2018 ; Smith et al, 2013 ; Souleymanov et al, 2020 ; Wilton, 2009 ; Zamboni & Crawford, 2007 ). Together, these suggests that internalized heterosexist racism maybe a meaningful, and perhaps critical, factor that can help to explain the mechanisms through which racism and heterosexism affects gay and bisexual Black men health.…”

“…Heterosexism (i.e., “societal level ideologies and patterns of institutionalized oppression of non-heterosexual people”; Herek, 2000 , p. 19) and racism (i.e., organized social system where racially marginalized groups are “devalue[d], disempower[ed], and differentially allocate[d] valued societal resources and opportunities”; Williams et al, 2019 , p. 106) are determinants of poor physical and mental health among racial and sexual minoritized groups in the USA (Bailey et al, 2017 ; Flentje et al, 2022 ; Paradies et al, 2015 ). In particular, for Black sexual minority men—who belong to both minoritized groups—structural (e.g., structural racism and heterosexism in laws) and interpersonal (e.g., racist and heterosexist discrimination) forms of racism and heterosexism are associated with adverse health outcomes, including greater engagement with unprotected anal intercourse with a male sex partner, psychological distress, alcohol use disorder, emotion regulation difficulties, psychiatric symptoms, sexual problems, and greater HIV risk (Ayala et al, 2012 ; Dyer et al, 2013 ; English et al, 2018 ; Smith et al, 2013 ; Souleymanov et al, 2020 ; Wilton, 2009 ; Zamboni & Crawford, 2007 ).…”