Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 8, 2025

The Resident-intruder Paradigm: A Standardized Test for Aggression, Violence and Social Stress
Published on: July 4, 2013
Development and validation of the microaggression scale for refugees (MSR): Independent contributions of
Hamed Abdollahpour Ranjbar1, Selcan Kaynak2, Fatema Almeamari2
1Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Koç University, Istanbul, Türkiye; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Istinye University, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Background:
Refugees face psychosocial challenges after resettling in host nations, including experienced stigma and microaggressions. Microaggressions are subtle/ambiguous discriminatory remarks or behaviors. There is a dearth of research and instruments examining microaggressions faced by refugees.
Aims:
We developed and validated the Microaggression Scale for Refugees (MSR) among Syrian and Afghan refugees in Türkiye and differentiated the unique/independent nature of microaggressions and experienced stigma and their effects on health.
Method:
445 Afghans and 406 Syrians completed the MSR and measures of psychological distress and somatic symptoms. We evaluated the factorial validity of the MSR independently of experienced stigma through the application of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Additionally, we employed multiple-group CFA to assess measurement invariance across Afghan and Syrian populations. Internal reliability was examined using Cronbach's alpha. Associations with relevant constructs were evaluated for convergent validity. Independent roles that experienced stigma and microaggressions play in contributing to psychological and physical symptoms were investigated using hierarchical regression analyses.
Results:
The MSR's two-factor model of microaggressions and experienced stigma fits the data well, with measurement invariance supported for Syrian and Afghan refugees. The MSR showed good internal reliability (α = 0.93). Convergent validity was supported by high correlations between microaggressions and experienced stigma, somatic symptoms, post-migration difficulties, and contact experiences with the host country. Both experienced stigma and microaggressions contributed independently to explaining variance in psychological and somatic symptoms.
Conclusions:
The MSR is a psychometrically sound tool to assess microaggressions refugees experience. Results highlight the importance of addressing microaggressions in interventions for refugee/immigrant populations.
Related Concept Videos
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
Psychological Responses to Stress
Surveys
Stereotype Content Model

