Measurement of Perceived Interpersonal and Societal Anti-Muslim Discrimination in the United States

Abstract

Background:

Hate crimes against Muslim Americans have increased exponentially in the past 20 years, but there are few scales for measuring the spectrum of perceived anti-Muslim discrimination in the United States. To fill this gap, this study used a mixed-method approach to develop scales for measuring perceived anti-Muslim discrimination.

Method:

Qualitative data informed the development and validation of the 19-item Societal Anti-Muslim Discrimination Index and the 9-item Interpersonal Anti-Muslim Discrimination Index. Quantitative data (N = 347) were collected from Muslim Americans using an online survey and used to assess the anti-Muslim indexes.

Results:

Qualitative data contributed to the refinement scale items. Quantitative results indicated one-component models and modest to high reliability of the Interpersonal Anti-Muslim Discrimination Index (.77) and Societal Anti-Muslim Discrimination Index (.88) scales.

Discussion:

Study results established the validity of these novel scales for measuring the distinct facets of anti-Muslim discrimination not captured by the Everyday Discrimination Index. These scales will facilitate research on anti-Muslim discrimination and the health implications of this form of religious-based discrimination.

Keywords

anti-Muslim Islamophobia discrimination Muslim Americans

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