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Development and Evaluation of the Atheist Identity Concealment Scale (AICS)
Paul E Yeatts1, Dena M Abbott2, Debra Mollen3
1Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, USA. pyeatts1@twu.edu.
Journal of Religion and Health
|November 29, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed the Atheist Identity Concealment Scale (AICS) to measure how atheists hide their identity. This validated tool helps understand the experiences of atheists concealing a stigmatized identity.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Religious Studies
Background:
- Atheist identity is often a concealable stigmatized identity (CSI).
- Existing measures may not adequately assess the concealment of atheist identity.
- Concealment can impact psychological well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate the Atheist Identity Concealment Scale (AICS).
- To provide a robust, brief measure for assessing atheist identity concealment.
- To utilize concealable stigmatized identity (CSI) theory in the scale's development.
Main Methods:
- Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used.
- Data were collected from three independent samples (N > 500) of US adults.
- Scale validity was examined through correlations with established measures (outness, nonreligiosity, depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem).
Main Results:
- A short, eight-item Atheist Identity Concealment Scale (AICS) was developed.
- The AICS demonstrated good psychometric properties across samples.
- Significant relationships were found between AICS scores and measures of outness, nonreligiosity, and psychological well-being.
Conclusions:
- The AICS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing atheist identity concealment.
- The scale can be used by researchers to study the impact of concealment on atheists.
- Findings contribute to the understanding of concealable stigmatized identities in diverse populations.
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