Instruments Used to Measure Sexual Identity Minority Stress: A COSMIN Systematic Review.

This systematic review evaluates the psychometric properties of instruments used to measure minority stress in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) populations. A systematic search identified measurement instruments for dimensions of minority stress in adult LGBQ populations. The instruments were evaluated using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) methodology. Eight out of 105 instruments qualified for appraisal. The Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Scale (LGBIS) and its German adaptation, LGBIS-DE, demonstrated the strongest psychometric properties and are recommended for use. However, the review indicated notable variation in how minority stress was conceptualized and operationalized across instruments. Additionally, content validity, as defined by COSMIN, has not been sufficiently explored, compromising the robustness of many instruments. This review highlights the need for greater standardization in the definition of minority stress constructs and a greater focus on content validity in future research. While the LGBIS and LGBIS-DE demonstrated strong psychometric properties, data were not available for all psychometric categories, particularly for reliability and responsiveness. Further research is needed to further validate the instruments included. PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42021257995.