Cultural Trauma Scale (CuTS)

Abstract

The Cultural Trauma Scale (CuTS; Gregory & Tucker Edmonds, 2023) is a 27-item measure designed to assess the structural roots, cognitive-emotional consequences, and impact on adaptive coping responses related to cultural trauma in Black men. This instrument was developed to address the critical need for more research specifically focusing on Black men’s experiences with race-based trauma, acknowledging that their encounters may differ due to disproportionate exposure to other forms of violence. The development process began with an initial pool of 73 items, derived from a qualitative study (Gregory & Tucker Edmonds, 2023) that explored Black American men’s contemporary experiences with racial injustice and their psychosocial responses. Following review by subject matter experts and community partners, 16 items were removed. The CuTS was then administered to Black American men across the U.S. Through principal axis factoring, the final factor structure was established, comprising five constructs and retaining 27 items. The reliability of the scale has been reported.

Keywords

American and Its Justice System; Cognitive– Behavioral Coping; Cognitive–Emotional Responses; Cultural Trauma; Race-Based Trauma; Resilience; Tripartite Police Fear; Willingness to Seek Treatment for Cultural Trauma

Authors

Gregory Jr., Virgil Lee; Tucker Edmonds, Joseph

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Purpose

The purpose of this measure is to assess trauma concerning structural, cognitive, emotional, familial, and professional health-seeking concepts in Black men.

Validity

No data is Available.

Reliability

Internal Consistency: The internal consistency for each factor of the Cultural Trauma Scale was reported using Cronbach’s alpha:

• American and its justice system: cognitive–emotional responses (Cronbach’s 𝛼 = .88)

• Cognitive–behavioral coping (Cronbach’s 𝛼 = .77)

• Willingness to seek cultural trauma treatment (Cronbach’s 𝛼 = .88)

• Tripartite police fear (Cronbach’s 𝛼 = .81)

• Resilience (Cronbach’s 𝛼 = .61)

Factor Analysis

Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) Principal Axis Factoring (PAF):
The initial PAF, conducted with 55 CuTS items, involved removing items that showed a tenuous empirical relationship with a construct (pattern coefficient < .30) or exhibited excessive theoretical overlap with other items without providing substantive empirical contribution to the factor structure. Cross-loading items were assigned to the factor with the highest pattern coefficient. This process resulted in 30 remaining CuTS items.

In the second PAF extraction, one CuTS item was the sole item to load on its factor, and another CuTS item cross-loaded on three different factors. Both of these items were subsequently removed.

The third PAF comprised 28 items across 5 factors. The explained variance for each of the retained five factors was as follows:

• Factor 1 = 29.72

• Factor 2 = 0.04

• Factor 3 = 6.70

• Factor 4 = 6.25

• Factor 5 = 4.46

The final PAF analysis utilized 27 items and confirmed a 5-factor structure.

Instrument

Test Type: Original Inventory/Questionnaire

Format: Items are rated on a 7-point Likert scale with the following response options: strongly disagree (1), disagree (2), slightly disagree (3), neither agree nor disagree (4), slightly agree (5), agree (6), or strongly agree (7). The administration method can be electronic or paper. The measure consists of 27 items.

Language Available: English

Population Group: Human; Male

Age Group: Adulthood (18 yrs & older)

Population Details:

• Location: United States

• Respondents: Black Men

Test Methodology: Test Reliability; Internal Consistency; Factor Analysis; Exploratory Factor Analysis

Keywords

Coping Behavior; Emotional Responses; Health Care Seeking Behavior; Justice; Male Attitudes; Resilience (Psychological); Police Violence; Racial Trauma; Trauma Measures; Cultural Attitudes; Black People

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier:

• Gregory, Virgil Lee, Jr.: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7991-802X

Affiliation:

• Gregory Jr., Virgil Lee: Indiana University School of Social Work

• Tucker Edmonds, Joseph: Department of Africana Studies, Indiana University School of Liberal Arts

Email Addresses:

• Gregory, Virgil Lee, Jr.: [email protected]

Correspondence Address:

• Gregory, Virgil Lee, Jr.: Indiana University School of Social Work, 902 West New York Street, ES 4153, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202, [email protected]

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: May use for Research/Teaching
Commercial: No
Fee: No
Test Year: 2023

References

Gregory, V. L., Jr., & Tucker Edmonds, J. (2024). Cultural Trauma Scale: Psychometric evaluation of Black men’s beliefs, emotions, and coping. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 16(8), 1329–1337. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001607

Items of the Cultural Trauma Scale (CuTS)

The Cultural Trauma Scale (CuTS) consists of 27 items, categorized into five factors:

Factors and Subscales:

• American and its justice system: cognitive–emotional responses

• Cognitive–behavioral coping

• Willingness to seek treatment for cultural trauma

• Tripartite police fear

• Resilience

Items

1. I do not trust the American justice system

2. America is against Black people

3. The American justice system is designed to keep Black people down

4. I am disappointed in how America treats Black people

5. You’re more likely to be found guilty if you are Black

6. When police officers kill Black people, the justice system does not hold them accountable for their actions

7. Seeing African Americans die by police actions has forever changed the way I view this country

8. There should be more Black people working in the American justice system

9. I am emotionally drained by the Black racial injustice in this country

10. Seeing Black people being killed by police makes me want revenge

11. Social media plays an important role in educating people about important Black social issues

12. My community helps me deal with Black racial injustice

13. Social media plays an important role in gaining support for protests

14. My family relationships help me deal with Black racial injustice

15. Black racial injustice issues have caused me to lose sleep

16. Changing my thinking helps me cope with Black racial injustice issues

17. Mental health services are a great way to cope with the effects of Black racial injustice

18. I am willing to discuss Black racial injustice issues with mental health professionals

19. I am willing to discuss Black racial injustice issues with medical professionals

20. I fear for my life because of Black racial injustice in America

21. I fear for my family members’ lives because of Black racial injustice in America

22. I get extremely nervous when I see police

23. Black racial injustice causes my family members to worry about my safety

24. Protests should always be peaceful and nonviolent

25. God will give us the justice that we seek in America

26. Something positive will come from all of these negative Black racial injustice issues

27. Black racial injustice will not stop me from achieving my goals

Note. Response options include: strongly disagree (1), disagree (2), slightly disagree (3), neither agree nor disagree (4), slightly agree (5), agree (6), or strongly agree (7).