PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND MINORITY STRESS INSTRUMENTS IN GREEK LGBTQ+ AND NON-LGBTQ+ ADULTS: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

This pilot study examined the psychometric properties of instruments assessing mental health outcomes (perceived stress, psychological distress, depressive symptoms, suicidality), minority stressors (structural stigma, rejection sensitivity, internalized homophobia), general stressors (stressful life events), and personality traits in a sample of LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ adults in Greece. Given that the factors influencing the mental health of LGBTQ+ individuals in Greece remain understudied, a small-scale pilot study was conducted to evaluate the psychometric performance of the selected scales prior to a large-scale investigation. A convenience sample of 108 participants, 67 of whom self-identified as LGBTQ+, completed a battery of self-report measures. Factorial validity was examined using factor-analytic techniques, and internal consistency was assessed with standard reliability indices. Based on the results, the instruments were refined for use in the main study. All scales demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, except for the BFI-10 personality inventory, which showed inadequate reliability and poor construct validity. An alternative personality trait measure will therefore be selected for the main study.