Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale [LGBIS-27]

Description

The Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale (LGBIS) is a multidimensional psychometric instrument developed to assess different aspects of sexual identity among individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Rather than treating sexual identity as a single characteristic, the scale examines how individuals perceive, accept, manage, and integrate their sexual orientation into their broader sense of self. The questionnaire contains 27 items addressing experiences such as privacy, acceptance, uncertainty, identity affirmation, and internalized negative attitudes.

The revised version of the LGBIS expanded the conceptual framework of the earlier Lesbian and Gay Identity Scale and provides a more comprehensive assessment of sexual minority identity. The revision includes dimensions related both to potentially distressing identity experiences and to positive identity development.

Dimensions of the Scale

The revised LGBIS assesses eight main dimensions of sexual identity.

Acceptance Concerns refer to the extent to which individuals worry about being judged, rejected, or negatively evaluated by others because of their sexual orientation.

Concealment Motivation reflects the tendency to keep one’s sexual orientation or same-sex relationships private and to carefully regulate disclosure to other people.

Identity Uncertainty assesses confusion, doubt, or uncertainty regarding one’s sexual orientation and sexual identity.

Internalized Homonegativity refers to the internalization of negative social attitudes or beliefs regarding lesbian, gay, or bisexual identities.

Difficult Process evaluates the extent to which the development, acknowledgment, and acceptance of an LGB identity has been experienced as difficult, slow, or emotionally painful.

Identity Superiority reflects beliefs that LGB individuals or identities are superior to heterosexual individuals or identities.

Identity Affirmation assesses positive feelings, pride, and acceptance associated with being lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

Identity Centrality examines the degree to which sexual orientation represents an important or central component of an individual’s overall identity.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the LGBIS is to provide a multidimensional assessment of the psychological and social processes associated with lesbian, gay, and bisexual identity development.

The instrument can help researchers investigate differences in identity acceptance, concealment, uncertainty, internalized negativity, pride, and the subjective importance assigned to sexual orientation. It is particularly useful when examining relationships between sexual identity and variables such as psychological well-being, self-esteem, social adjustment, interpersonal relationships, minority stress, and perceived social acceptance.

The LGBIS should therefore not be viewed simply as a measure of sexual orientation. Instead, it assesses the individual’s experiences and attitudes regarding their sexual identity.

Scoring

Items are rated using a 7-point Likert-type scale, ranging from:

1 = Disagree Strongly
to
7 = Agree Strongly.

Scores for the revised LGBIS are calculated separately for each subscale:

  • Acceptance Concerns: mean of Items 5, 9, and 16
  • Concealment Motivation: mean of Items 1, 4, and 19
  • Identity Uncertainty: mean of Items 3, 8, 14, and 22
  • Internalized Homonegativity: mean of Items 2, 20, and 27
  • Difficult Process: mean of Items 12, 17, and 23
  • Identity Superiority: mean of Items 7, 10, and 18
  • Identity Affirmation: mean of Items 6, 13, and 26
  • Identity Centrality: mean of Items 11, 15, 21, 24, and 25.

Items 11 and 23 are reverse-scored before calculating the corresponding subscale scores.

Higher scores on each subscale indicate a stronger presence of the corresponding identity-related characteristic. Interpretation should therefore primarily be conducted at the subscale level, rather than relying on a single overall LGBIS score.

Research and Clinical Applications

The LGBIS can be used in psychological, counseling, social science, public health, and sexuality research. Its multidimensional structure allows researchers to distinguish between potentially challenging identity experiences, such as concealment, uncertainty, and internalized homonegativity, and positive aspects of identity development, such as affirmation and pride.

The instrument may also contribute to research exploring sexual minority stress, identity development, social acceptance, interpersonal functioning, and mental health outcomes. Its use should always respect participants’ self-defined identities and the original population for which the instrument was developed.

Although the broader term LGBTQ+ is frequently used in contemporary scientific and social discourse, the LGBIS was specifically developed and validated for lesbian, gay, and bisexual identities. Its psychometric properties should therefore not automatically be generalized to all identities included within the broader LGBTQ+ spectrum.

References

Mohr, J. J., & Fassinger, R. E. (2000). Measuring dimensions of lesbian and gay male experience. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 33, 66–90.

Mohr, J. J., & Fassinger, R. E. (2006). Sexual orientation identity and romantic relationship quality in same-sex couples. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32, 1085–1100.

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.

Mohr, J. J., & Kendra, M. S. (2012). The Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Identity Scale (LGBIS). Measurement Instrument Database for the Social Sciences.