COVID-19 Response-Related Discrimination Scale

Abstract

The COVID-19 Response-Related Discrimination Scale, developed by Algarin et al. in 2023, is a four-item instrument designed to assess the experiences of discrimination associated with the COVID-19 response, specifically among individuals who inject drugs (PWID). This measure was created to address a gap in validated scales for evaluating discrimination during the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Its development was informed by the Everyday Discrimination Scale (Forman et al., 1997; Gonzales et al., 2016; Thurber et al., 2021). The scale was administered to PWID in the United States, and principal component analysis indicated a unidimensional structure. The reliability and validity of the scale have been reported.

Keywords

COVID-19; COVID-19 Response-Related Discrimination; Discrimination Experiences; People Who Inject Drugs; Self-Report

Authors

Algarin, Angel B.; Yeager, Samantha; Patterson, Thomas L.; Strathdee, Steffanie A.; Harvey-Vera, Alicia; Vera, Carlos F.; Stamos-Buesig, Tara; Artamanova, Irina; Abramovitz, Daniela; Smith, Laramie R.

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Purpose

The primary purpose of the COVID-19 Response-Related Discrimination Scale is to evaluate the discrimination experienced by individuals during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response.

Validity

Construct Validity: The construct validity analysis of the COVID-19 Response-Related Discrimination Scale revealed a positive correlation between higher levels of COVID-19 response-related discrimination and increased endorsement of COVID-19 disinformation (r = 0.18; p = 0.007). Positive correlations were also observed with anxiety (r = 0.33; p < 0.001), physical assault in the past 6 months (r = 0.14; p = 0.006), and having undergone a COVID-19 test (r = 0.17; p = 0.001). Conversely, COVID-19 response-related discrimination showed a negative correlation with resilience (r = -0.18; p < 0.001).

Reliability

Internal Consistency: The COVID-19 response-related discrimination scale demonstrated an internal reliability of 𝛼 = 0.66 and ω = 0.66.

Factor Analysis

Principal Component Analysis: A structural validity analysis of the COVID-19 response-related discrimination scale identified a single component solution, characterized by an Eigenvalue of 2.59 and explaining 85% of the variance.

Instrument

• Test Type: Original

• Format: The response options for the items are Yes (=1) and No (=0). Additionally, there is a scale from 1 = “not at all related to the discrimination experience” to 5 = “a lot to do with the discrimination experience.”

• Language Available: English

• Population Group: Human (Male; Female)

• Age Group: Adulthood (18 years and older)

• Population Details: The study was conducted in the United States with respondents being People Who Inject Drugs.

• Test Methodology: Test Validity, Construct Validity, Test Reliability, Internal Consistency, Factor Analysis, Principal Component Analysis.

Keywords

COVID-19; COVID-19 Response-Related Discrimination; Discrimination Experiences; People Who Inject Drugs; Self-Report; Discrimination; Drug Abuse; Experiences (Events); Injections; Self-Report; Social Discrimination; Social and Interpersonal Measures; Substance Use and Addiction Measures; COVID-19

Authors

• Algarin, Angel B.: Arizona State University – Downtown Campus Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation.

• Yeager, Samantha: Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0533-1875

• Patterson, Thomas L.: Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego.

• Strathdee, Steffanie A.: Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7724-691X

• Harvey-Vera, Alicia: Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego.

• Vera, Carlos F.: Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego.

• Stamos-Buesig, Tara: Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego.

• Artamanova, Irina: Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego.

• Abramovitz, Daniela: Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego.

• Smith, Laramie R.: Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego. [email protected]

Correspondence Address: Smith, Laramie R.: University of California San Diego, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, 9500 Gilman Drive, Mail Code 0507, San Diego, California, United States, 92093-0507, [email protected]

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

• Permissions: May be used for Research/Teaching.

• Commercial Use: No

• Fee: No

• Test Year: 2023

References

Algarin, A. B., Yeager, S., Patterson, T. L., Strathdee, S. A., Harvey-Vera, A., Vera, C. F., Stamos-Buesig, T., Artamanova, I., Abramovitz, D., & Smith, L. R. (2023). The moderating role of resilience in the relationship between experiences of Covid-19 response-related discrimination and disinformation among people who inject drugs. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 246, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109831

Items of the COVID-19 Response-Related Discrimination Scale

This measure consists of 4 items. The specific items are available in the source reference: Algarin et al. (2023), Table 1, Page 3.

Items

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020 were you worried that you might be verbally or physically harassed by others (including the police) …

1. because there were fewer people in public?

2. if you wore a mask?

During the COVID-19 pandemic…
3. did you experience more verbal harassment than before (called names or insulted)?
4. were you physically threatened or harmed more than before?

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Note. Response options are Yes (=1) and No (=0). Responses are summed to create a composite discrimination score (range from 0 to 4), where higher scores indicate greater experiences of COVID-19 response-related discrimination. For each COVID-19 response-related discrimination experience answered in the affirmative, participants are asked to indicate the degree of which they believe that each status-based attribute was the reason for the discrimination from 1 = “not at all related to the discrimination experience” to 5 = “a lot to do with the discrimination experience.”