Gender Identity Stigma (GIS)

A scale was designed ad hoc to measure GIS. To this end, a set of items from the HIV Index were adapted by changing the wording from “due to your HIV status” to “due to your gender identity”. They were combined with a set of items from the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS). The final questionnaire consisted of 18 items that assessed both internalized and enacted GIS in the last year, using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1-Never to 5-Always. 

Internalized GIS was operationalized as presence of negative emotions (such as shame, guilt and low self-esteem), anticipation or fear of rejection and self-isolation or avoidant behavior (e.g. “I felt ashamed” or “I felt fear of being insulted, harassed and/or verbally threatened”). This subscale contained 9 items. 

Enacted GIS entailed actual experiences of stigma and discrimination (e.g. “I was excluded from family reunions or social activities” or “I was threatened or verbally harassed”). This subscale comprised 9 items. The total scale and the subscales showed excellent reliability and internal consistency. Omega values for this sample were .94 (Total GIS), .91 (Enacted GIS) and .94 (Internalized GIS).

Measure Source Article:

International Planned Parenthood Federation, Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, International Community of Women Living with HIV, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS: People Living with HIV Stigma Index: An index to measure the stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV – questionnaire. 2008.  

The People Living with HIV Stigma Index user guide. London, Global Network of People Living with HIV, International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, International Planned Parenthood Federation and Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. 2008. Available at www.stigmaindex.org/90/publications/the-people-living-with-hiv-stigma-index-userguide.html.

Williams DR, Yu Y, Jackson JS, Anderson NB. Racial differences in physical and mental health: Socioeconomic status, stress, and discrimination. J. Health Psychol. 1997;2:335-351.

 

Translation Information:

The measure is available in the following languages: English and Spanish. English translation was performed by UM-CLaRO team member Heather Sanchez and University of Miami Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health CHARM (P30MH116867) team member; Andres Vazquez and Paco Castellon for local accuracy of meaning or were translated and back translated by the team.

 

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