East Tennessee State University Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations Student Works 8-2017 Development and Validation of the Bisexual Microaggressions Scale Emma G. Fredrick East Tennessee State University Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd Part of the Health Psychology Commons, Quantitative Psychology Commons, and the Social Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Fredrick, Emma G., "Development and Validation of the Bisexual Microaggressions Scale" (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3289. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3289 This Dissertation - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Works at Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Development and Validation of the Bisexual Microaggressions Scale _____________________________________ A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Department of Psychology East Tennessee State University ____________________________________ In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology ___________________________________ by Emma G. Fredrick August 2017 __________________________________ Stacey L. Williams, Ph.D., Chair Ginni Blackhart, Ph.D. Julia Dodd, Ph.D. Matt McBee, Ph.D. Jason Steadman, Psy.D. Keywords: bisexual microaggressions, scale development, quality of life, minority stress, scale validation, bisexuality ABSTRACT Development and Validation of the Bisexual Microaggressions Scale by Emma G. Fredrick Sexual minorities face stigmatizing experiences which can lead to disparities in physical and mental health, as well as social and economic resources. Additionally, research suggests that microaggressions, or small actions and comments that speak to a person’s prejudices, act as stigmatizing experiences and contribute to negative outcomes for the stigmatized. However, most studies of sexual minority health do not explore bisexual experiences uniquely, despite evidence that bisexuals have unique experiences of stigma and microaggressions. Those studies that do explore bisexual experiences find worse outcomes for bisexuals than their lesbian or gay counterparts. Thus, the current study developed a quantitative scale for assessing experiences of microaggressions specific to bisexuals. A 35-item scale formulated around previously identified microaggression types was validated using data from a sample of 232 bisexuals. Results indicated that bisexual microaggressions were distinct from homonegative microaggressions and that bisexual microaggressions were related to worse physical, psychological, and environmental quality of life. This scale is an additional tool that researchers may use in understanding how stigma experiences lead to negative outcomes, as well as to identify opportunities for alleviating disparities. 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to acknowledge and thank those who participated in my dissertation study, because without them there would be no dissertation. Additionally, I would like to thank those who helped in the dissemination of my project. The local and online queer communities of which I am a part are invaluable in my research, but also in my life. Thank you for continually teaching me the meaning of compassion, love, and strength. This is for you. I would also like to thank Dr. Stacey Williams who has been my mentor and advisor throughout my graduate training. She has taught me so much and has provided me with a number of opportunities that have shaped me as an academic and researcher. I would also like to thank the other members of my dissertation committee both current and past, Dr. Matt McBee, Dr. Ginni Blackhart, Dr. Jason Steadman, Dr. Chris Dula, and Dr. Julia Dodd, for their vital feedback throughout my dissertation process. Additionally, all of the faculty, staff, and graduate students within the Department of Psychology have been instrumental to my growth during my time here. I am thankful for everyone within this department. In particular, I am beyond grateful for the constant support, encouragement, and friendship of Katie Klik and Sheri LaDuke. I would not have made it through graduate school without them. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge and thank my family for their tremendous support of me. I am the person that I am because of their love and support. To my parents, thank you for shaping me into the woman that I am and teaching me that there are no limits to what I can do. To my brother, thank you for teaching me love and support even through difficult times. To Aaron, thank you for loving me and supporting me through this process. You all are my rock. I would also like to acknowledge that this research is supported by grants from the East Tennessee State University School of Graduate Studies and the Bisexual Foundation. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………………… 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………………… 3 LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………………………….. 8 Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………….............................. 9 Stigma and Its Consequences...……………………………………………………………….. 10 Bisexual Specific Experiences of Stigma and Health..………………………………..………. 13 Microaggressions……………………………………………………………………..………. 17 Bisexual Microaggressions……………..……………………………………………….……. 20 Hostility…….……………………………………………………………………………... 20 Denial/dismissal…………………………………………………………………………... 21 Unintelligibility…………………………………………………………………………... 21 Pressure to Change………………………………………………………………………... 22 LGBT Legitimacy………….……………………………………………………………... 22 Dating Exclusion…………………………………………………………………………... 22 Hypersexuality……………………………………………………………………………... 22 Existing Measures..………………………………………………………………………... 23 Current Study…...……………………………………………………………………………... 24 2. STUDY 1: SCALE DEVELOPMENT…..…………………………………………………….. 26 Method..…………………………………………...................................................................... 26 Participants……….………………………………………………………………………... 26 4 Procedure……..…..………………………………………………………………………... 27 Analysis Plan……..………………………………………………………………………... 29 Results….…..………………………………………………………………………………….. 29 Clarity……….……………………………………………………………………………... 29 Relatability………………..………………………………………………………………... 30 Face and Content Validity……….….……………………………………………………... 31 3. STUDY 2: SCALE VALIDATON…..…..…………………………………………………….. 35 Method..…………………………………………..................................................................... 35 Participants……….………………………………………………………………………... 35 Procedure……..…..………………………………………………………………………... 38 Amazon Mechanical Turk……………………………………………………………… 41 Social media…………………………………………………………………………….. 42 Measures.……..…..………………………………………………………………………... 43 Demographics…………………………………………………………………………... 43 Potential confounders.………………………………………………………………….. 43 Bisexual microaggressions…….....…………………………………………………….. 44 Measures of discriminant validity…...……...………………………………………….. 44 Measures of convergent validity…...………………….……………………………….. 45 Predictive validity……………..…...………………….……………………………….. 46 Analysis Plan…….…………………………………………………………..……………….. 47 Construct Validity..………………………………………………………………………... 47 Results….…..………………………………………………………………………………….. 49 Construct Validity…...……………………………………………………………………... 49 5 PCA……………………………………………………………………………………... 49 Composite score and squared correlations….………………………………………….. 60 ANCOVA……………..……….....…………………………………………………….. 64 Confounding Variables….…...……………………………………………………………. 65 Discriminant Validity………...……………………………………………………………. 66 Convergent Validity…………………………….…………………………………………. 66 Predictive Validity….………...……………………………………………………………. 67 4. DISCUSSION…………………………………………………………………………………. 73 Implications..………………………………………...………………………………..………. 78 Limitations and Future Directions…………………………………………………………….. 81 Conclusion…………………………………………...………………………………..………. 83 REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………………........ 85 APPENDICES………………………………………………………………………………......... 102 Appendix A: Initial Bisexual Microaggressions Scale.……………………………………….. 102 Appendix B: Final Bisexual Microaggressions Scale….……………………………………... 104 Appendix C: Non-Bisexual Versions of Bisexual Microaggressions Scale...………………… 106 Appendix D: Demographics Questionnaire…………………....…………...…………………. 113 Appendix E: Outness Inventory………………………………..……………………………… 115 Appendix F: Centrality Scale……………………………………………..…………………… 116 Appendix G: Big Five Inventory – Neuroticism Subscale…..……………………………….. 117 Appendix H: Homonegative Microaggressions Scale………………………………………... 118 Appendix I: Anti-Bisexual Experiences Scale – Heterosexual.……………………………… 120 Appendix J: Anti-Bisexual Experiences Scale – Lesbian/Gay.…………...……………..……. 121 6 Appendix K: World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale, Brief…..…………………… 122 VITA…………………………………………………………………………………………........ 125 7 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Initial Scale Items and Updated Scale Items……………………………..…………………… 32 2. Demographics and Descriptive Statistics by Sexual Orientation……………………………... 37 3. Demographics and Descriptive Statistics by Recruitment Strategy…………………………... 40 4. Item Loading with Seven Components……………...………………………………………... 51 5. Eigenvalues from PCA with Seven Forced Components……………………………………... 55 6. Item Loading with Three Components....................................................................................... 57 7. Item Loading with One Component….…………………………………………..……………