A Brief Black Masculinity Scale and Associations With Stress Coping

Abstract

Prior research examining psychological implications among Black men has relied on an existing measure of Black masculinity, the Masculinity Inventory Scale (MIS). This scale includes 50 survey items, which may create laborious barriers and affect measurement validity and reliability. In the current study, we sought to adapt the MIS to 25 items and confirm the factor structure of a Brief MIS using a sample of Black men (n = 264) recruited from Prolific. We also sought to examine relationships between masculinity subscales and coping strategies. We confirmed the Brief MIS loaded onto five constructs, with three of the original constructs remaining: Mainstream/Black Masculinity, Black Masculinity, and Mainstream society. However, two original constructs, primary peer group and primary group, were adapted to female primary group and male primary group, reflecting masculinity shaped by important male and female figures in Black men’s lives. Our findings provide unique updates and measurement considerations to advance research focused on central constructs of manhood among Black men.