Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity: A preliminary investigation of reliability and constuct validity.

Abstract

The present study presents preliminary evidence regarding the reliability and validity of the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (MIBI). The MIBI consists of 7 subscales representing 3 stable dimensions of African American racial identity (Centrality, Ideology, and Regard). Responses to the MIBI were collected from 474 African American college students from a predominantly African American university (n = 185) and a predominantly White university (n = 289). As the result of factor analysis, a revised 51-item scale was developed. Evidence was found for 6 subscales. The Public Regard subscale was dropped because of poor internal consistency. Interscale correlations suggest that the MIBI is internally valid. Relationships among the MIBF subscales and race-related behavior suggest that the instrument has external validity. Descriptive statistics for the revised MIBI are provided for the entire sample as well as by school. Racial identity is one of the most heavily researched aspects of African Americans' psychological lives. Racial identity has been associated with a number of phenomena including selfesteem (

The Effects of Race-related Stress on Cortisol Reactivity in the Laboratory: Implications of the Duke Lacrosse Scandal

“…After this task, participants indicated perceived threat related to the stressor task (e.g., "Overall, I thought the tasks were threatening") and completed questionnaires pertaining to their group identity, including the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (MIBI; [6]) and a modified version of the Collective Self-esteem Scale (CSE; Luhtanen and Crocker 1992). The MIBI contained several subscales including: centrality (how much race is a central part of an individual's self-concept), nationalism (emphasizing the uniqueness of the African-American experience from other groups) and assimilation (emphasizing the commonalities between African Americans and the rest of American society), and private regard (the extent of positivity or negativity toward African Americans and membership in that group).…”

“…Identity can inform beliefs about interpersonal and institutional interactions, and there is evidence that racial identity is an influential construct in the experience of racial discrimination [4][5][6]. Racial identity has been found to buffer the adverse effects of acute and chronic discrimination on health problems for African Americans [7] perhaps by increasing feelings of social support and thus enhancing an individual's capacity to cope and respond to stressful experiences (e.g., [1]).…”

Racial Discrimination and Racial Identity as Risk or Protective Factors for Violent Behaviors in African American Young Adults

“…A critical aspect of self-worth for many African American youth is the establishment of a racial identity (Cross et al, 1998;Phinney, 1990;Sellers, Rowley, Chavous, Shelton, & Smith, 1997;Spencer, Cunningham, & Swanson, 1995). Helms (1990) noted that racial identity "is a sense of group or collective identity based on one's perception that he/she shares a common racial heritage with a particular racial group" (p. 3).…”

“…Because most research on youth violence and African Americans is cross-sectional and focuses on children and younger adolescents, the relationship between experiences with racial discrimination and violent behavior among young adults is not understood. Previous research does suggest that interpersonal conflict and violence in the home and community will result in violent behavior, psychological distress, a negative outlook on the future, and a low sense of self-worth among children and youth, especially among African American males (Guerra et al, 1995;Paschall & Hubbard, 1998; Yager & RotheramBorus, 2000).A critical aspect of self-worth for many African American youth is the establishment of a racial identity (Cross et al, 1998;Phinney, 1990;Sellers, Rowley, Chavous, Shelton, & Smith, 1997;Spencer, Cunningham, & Swanson, 1995). Helms (1990) noted that racial identity "is a sense of group or collective identity based on one's perception that he/she shares a common racial heritage with a particular racial group" (p. 3).…”

“…This reconceptualization suggests that different racial identity attitudes may relate to violent behavior in different ways. Sellers et al (1997Sellers et al ( , 1998) offer a conceptual framework that focuses on both the significance that African Americans attribute to being Black and how they define what it means to be Black. Three components of this framework are particularly relevant when examining the relationship between racial identity and violent behavior in African American youth.…”