Scale Overview
The Internalized Homophobia Scale – IHS was developed by Glenn J. Wagner (1994). It is designed to measure Internalized homophobia. The scale is intended for use with Gay men.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 10 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 20 to 100. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Internalized Homophobia: 20 – 46
- Moderate Internalized Homophobia: 47 – 73
- High Internalized Homophobia: 74 – 100
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha of .92.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.