Development and validation of the Positive Bisexual Identity (PBI) scale

Abstract

ABSTRACT Positive sexual minority identity is a vital point of investigation for bisexual individuals. However, no measure currently exists that specifically examines positive sexual identity in bisexual people, whose experiences differ from those of gay men and lesbian women. These three studies outline the development, refinement, and validation of a measure of positive bisexual identity. In Study 1, participants completed an initial pool of items and a validation measure. A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted for item reduction. Studies 2 and 3 investigated the Positive Bisexual Identity (PBI) measure’s scale-score reliability and dimensionality using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The construct validity of the PBI scale also was tested using measures expected to correlate with positive bisexual identity. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients and Omega coefficients provided support for scale score reliability, and the proposed nomological network offered support for the PBI’s construct validity. Our findings elucidate potential differences between positive bisexual identity and positive gay/lesbian identity. The PBI has potential as a scale that can be used to measure positive bisexual identity in both research and clinical settings.