Development and Initial Validation of the Inventory of Microaggressions Against Black Individuals

Authors

Sterett H. Mercer, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Virgil Zeigler-Hill, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Marion T. Wallace, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Demarquis M. Hayes, University of North Texas

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2011

Department

Psychology

Abstract

The present article describes the development and initial validation of the Inventory of Microaggressions Against Black Individuals (IMABI) using a sample of 385 undergraduates who self-identified as Black or African American. The IMABI is a 14-item, unidimensional measure of racial microaggressions that captures both microinsults and microinvalidations. The present findings support the IMABI as a reliable and valid measure of microaggressions that was associated with general distress and perceived stress. Importantly, the association between the IMABI and psychological adjustment persisted even when social desirability and another measure of race-related stress were included in the analyses. Discussion focuses on the potential implications of the IMABI for understanding the daily experiences and psychological adjustment of Black individuals.

Publication Title

Journal of Counseling Psychology

Volume

58

Issue

4

First Page

457

Last Page

469

Recommended Citation

Mercer, S. H., Zeigler-Hill, V., Wallace, M. T., Hayes, D. M. (2011). Development and Initial Validation of the Inventory of Microaggressions Against Black Individuals. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58(4), 457-469.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/507