32. An Intersectional Psychometric Evaluation of a Discrimination Scale Among Minority Youth: Is There Measurement Invariance by Gender?

Racism is a public health crisis; researchers have demonstrated racism is strongly associated with poor health and social outcomes among adolescents and young adults. To improve the health and well-being of minority youth, programs must recognize the nuanced intersection between race, gender, and other identities to shift key societal norms and structures. In doing so, it is crucial to be mindful about the ways in which racism is measured at the individual level through experiences of discrimination. Finding valid tools to measure discrimination through an intersectional lens is necessary to accurately assess the effectiveness of programs aimed to reduce those experiences. This study evaluates construct validity of a discrimination scale among minority youth in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and assesses the scale’s measurement invariance by male and female gender.