Abstract
The present study contributes to a growing body of literature developing psychometrically and theoretically grounded measures of sexual orientation minority identity. We tested psychometric properties and construct validity of a 27-item measure, the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale (LGBIS). The sample consisted of 475 adult (178 male, 237 female, 16 male-to-female, 14 female-to-male, and 30 gender queer persons) members of a special interest group, the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. Participants completed a health needs questionnaire. Prominent findings included (1) confirmatory factor-analytic, internal consistency, and inter-correlation patterns support two LGBIS factor structures; (2) men, compared primarily to women, reported elevated scores on Acceptance Concerns, Concealment Motivation, Difficulty Process, and Negative Identity; (3) queer-identifying persons tended to report low Concealment Motivation, and high Identity Affirmation and Identity Centrality scores; (4) experimenting/fluid-identifying individuals tended toward higher Identity Uncertainty and Negative Identity, and lower Identity Centrality scores; (5) LGB community involvement was negatively associated with Concealment Motivation, Identity Uncertainty, and Negative Identity, and positively associated with Identity Superiority, Identity Affirmation, and Identity Centrality scores; and (6) Acceptance Concerns, Identity Uncertainty, and Internalized Homonegativity displayed significant positive associations with such mental health symptoms as general anxiety and posttraumatic stress. The LGBIS represents a useful approach to evaluating sexual orientation minority identity. Implications for identity theory, research, and practice are provided.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
In this section, we highlight only basic factor structures. The online supplement summarizes detailed factor-analytic strategies and adaptation of LGBIS measures over the series of studies.
For item changes from LGBIS, see online supplement.
Cramer et al. imposed more stringent model estimates in the test of the eight-factor model (online supplement for details).
A total of 521 sexual orientation minority-identifying persons started the survey, but a total of 46 dropped out prior to completion of the LGBIS and other measures of interest (with most ceasing participation prior to providing sufficient demographic information for basic between-groups analyses between the analyzed group and those who dropped out).
For exact items, subscales, and analytic approaches for each model, see online supplement.
Only significant between-groups analyses are reported for categorical correlates for H2, H3, and H5; full set of statistical tests are available from the corresponding author upon request.
References
Balsam, K. F., & Mohr, J. J. (2007). Adaptation to sexual orientation stigma: A comparison of bisexual and lesbian/gay adults. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54, 306–319. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.54.3.306.
Balsam, K. F., Molina, Y., Blayney, J. A., Dillworth, T., Zimmerman, L., & Kaysen, D. (2015). Racial/ethnic differences in identity and mental health outcomes among young sexual minority women. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 21, 380–390. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038680.
Blashill, A. J., & Powlishta, K. K. (2009). Gay stereotypes: The use of sexual orientation as a cue for gender-related attributes. Sex Roles, 61, 783–793. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-009-9684-9687.
Brewster, M. E., Moradi, B., DeBlaere, C., & Velez, B. L. (2013). Navigating the borderlands: The roles of minority stressors, bicultural self-efficacy, and cognitive flexibility in the mental health of bisexual individuals. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60, 543–556. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033224.
Cass, V. C. (1979). Homosexual identity formation: A theoretical model. Journal of Homosexuality, 4, 219–235.
Cerezo, A. (2016). The impact of discrimination on mental health symptomatology in sexual minority immigrant Latinas. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 3, 283–292. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000172.
Conybeare, D., Behar, E., Soloman, A., Newman, M. G., & Borkovec, T. D. (2012). The PTSD Checklist—Civilian version: Reliability, validity, and factor structure in a nonclinical sample. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 68, 699–713. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21845.
Cramer, R. J., Golom, F. D., Burks, A. C., Stroud, C. H., & Graham, J. (2017). The Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale: Factor analytic evidence and associations with health and well-being. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 50, 71–88. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2017.1325703.
de Oliveira, J. M., Lopes, D., Costa, C. G., & Nogueira, C. (2012). Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale (LGBIS): Construct validation, sensitivity analyses and other psychometric properties. Spanish Journal of Psychology, 15, 334–347.
Denton, F. N., Rostosky, S. S., & Danner, F. (2014). Stigma-related stressors, coping self-efficacy, and physical health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 61, 383–391. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036707.
DiStefano, C., & Hess, B. (2005). Using confirmatory factor analysis for construct validation: An empirical review. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 23, 225–241. https://doi.org/10.1177/073428290502300303.
Feinstein, B. A., Goldfried, M. R., & Davila, J. (2012). The relationship between experiences of discrimination and mental health among lesbians and gay men: An examination of internalized homonegativity and rejection sensitivity as potential mechanisms. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 80, 917–927. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029425.
Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Galinsky, A. D., Wang, C. S., Whitson, J. A., Anicich, E. M., Hugenburg, K., et al. (2013). The reappropriation of stigmatizing labels: The reciprocal relationship between power and self-labeling. Psychological Science, 24, 2020–2029. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613482943.
Galupo, M. P., & Bauerband, L. A. (2016). Sexual Orientation Reflection and Rumination Scale: Development and psychometric evaluation. Stigma and Health, 1, 44–58. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000017.
Gemberling, T. M., Cramer, R. J., & Miller, R. S. (2015a). BDSM as a sexual orientation: A comparison of lesbian, gay, and bisexual sexuality. Journal of Positive Sexuality, 1, 37–43.
Gemberling, T. M., Cramer, R. J., Miller, R. S., Stroud, C. H., Noland, R. M., & Graham, J. (2015b). Lesbian, gay, and bisexual identity as a moderator of relationship functioning after sexual assault. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 30, 3431–3452. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260514563834.
Herek, G. M., Gillis, J. R., & Cogan, J. C. (2009). Internalized stigma among sexual minority adults: Insights from a social psychological perspective. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56, 32–43. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014672.
Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6, 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118.
Jagose, A. (1996). Queer theory: An introduction. New York: NYU Press.
Kemer, G., Demirtas, E. Z., Pope, A. L., & Ummak, E. (2017). Psychometric properties of the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale-Turkish (LGBIS-TR). Journal of Homosexuality, 64, 1632–1649. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2016.1249741.
Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., & Martin, C. E. (1948). Sexual behavior in the human male. Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders.
Kline, T. (2005). Psychological testing: A practical approach to design and evaluation. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Kline, R. B. (2011). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford.
Levy, D. L. (2009). Gay and lesbian identity development: An overview for social workers. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 19, 978–993. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911350903126866.
Lien, D., & Balakrishnan, N. (2005). On regression analysis with data cleaning via trimming, winsorization, and dichotomization. Communications in Statistics—Simulation and Computation, 34, 839–849. https://doi.org/10.1080/03610910500307695.
Meade, A. W., Johnson, E. C., & Braddy, P. W. (2008). Power and sensitivity of alternate fit indices in tests of measurement invariance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93, 568–592. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.93.3.568.
Meyer, I. H. (2013). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 1, 3–26. https://doi.org/10.1037/2329-0382.1.S.3.
Mohr, J. J., & Daly, C. A. (2008). Sexual minority stress and changes in relationship quality in same-sex couples. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 25, 989–1007. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407508100311.
Mohr, J. J., & Fassinger, R. (2000). Measuring dimensions of lesbian and gay male experience. Measurement & Evaluation in Counseling & Development, 33, 66–90.
Mohr, J. J., & Kendra, M. S. (2011). Revision and extension of a multidimensional measure of sexual minority identity: The Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58, 234–245. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022858.
National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. (n.d.). NCSF history. Retrieved from https://ncsfreedom.org/who-we-are/about-ncsf.html.
Osman, A., Bagge, C. L., Gutierrez, P. M., Konick, L. C., Kopper, B. A., & Barrios, F. X. (2001). The Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R): Validation with clinical and nonclinical samples. Assessment, 8, 443–454. https://doi.org/10.1177/107319110100800409.
Osman, A., Wong, J. L., Bagge, C. L., Freedenthal, S., Gutierrez, P. M., & Lozano, G. (2012). The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21): Further examination of dimensions, scale reliability, and correlates. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 68, 1322–1338. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21908.
Preacher, K. J., & Merkle, E. C. (2012). The problem of model selection uncertainty in structural equation modeling. Psychological Methods, 17, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026804.
Richters, J., de Visser, R. O., Rissel, C. E., Grulich, A. E., & Smith, A. M. A. (2008). Demographic and psychosocial features of participants in bondage and discipline, “sadomasochism” or dominance and submission (BDSM): Data from a national survey. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5, 1660–1668. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.00795.x.
Ridolfo, H., Miller, K., & Maitland, A. (2012). Measuring sexual identity using survey questionnaires: How valid are our measures? Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 9, 113–124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-011-0074-x.
Russell, S. T., Clarke, T. J., & Clary, J. (2009). Are teens “post-gay”? Contemporary adolescents’ sexual identity labels. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38, 884–890. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-008-9388-2.
Sarno, E., & Wright, A. J. (2013). Homonegative microaggressions and identity in bisexual men and women. Journal of Bisexuality, 13, 63–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2013.756677.
Tebbe, E. A., & Moradi, B. (2016). Suicide risk in trans populations: An application of minority stress theory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63, 520–533. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000152.
Troiden, R. R. (1989). The formation of homosexual identities. Journal of Homosexuality, 17, 43–73.
Wismeijer, A. A. J., & van Assen, M. A. L. M. (2013). Psychological characteristics of BDSM practitioners. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10, 1943–1952. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12192.
Wolf, E. J., Harrington, K. M., Clark, S. L., & Miller, M. W. (2013). Sample size requirements for structural equation models: An evaluation of power, bias, and solution propriety. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 73, 913–934. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164413495237.
Wright, S. (2006). Discrimination of SM-identified individuals. Journal of Homosexuality, 50, 217–231.
Wright, S. (2010). Depathologizing consensual sexual sadism, sexual masochism, transvestic fetishism, and fetishism [Letter to the Editor]. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39, 1229–1230.
Yuan, K.-H., Bentler, P. M., & Zhang, W. (2005). The effect of skewness and kurtosis on mean and covariance structural analysis: The univariate case and its multivariate implications. Sociological Methods & Research, 34, 240–258. https://doi.org/10.1177/0049124105280200.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
Authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Human and Animals Rights
The study was approved by a university Human Subjects Institution Review Board (IRB).
Informed Consent
All participants electing to participate clicked an electronic consent agreement after being provided information concerning participant rights, study description and contact information for the IRB and study team.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cramer, R.J., Golom, F.D., Gemberling, T.M. et al. Examining the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale Among Members of an Alternative Sexuality Special Interest Group. Arch Sex Behav 47, 1251–1264 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-017-1120-4
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-017-1120-4