Description

This discrimination measure is used to assess experiences of racial and ethnic discrimination among Native American adults and youth. The adult version includes 12 items, and the youth version includes 8 items, both heavily adapted from the Schedule of Racist Events (Landrine et al., 1996). Items ask participants how often they have experienced racially discriminatory events – such as being treated unfairly, called names, or threatened – due to their race or ethnicity. These adaptations focus on relevance to Indigenous populations, simplifying language and ensuring developmental appropriateness for younger respondents. The measure captures frequency of discriminatory encounters across different settings and relationships, contributing to an understanding of racism’s impact on well-being.

AI/AN Communities where the measure has been used

Communities in the northern Midwestern United States and Canada

Demographics of AI/AN participants where the scale has been used

Adult caregivers with children and youth aged 10-18

Notes on adaptations or modifications

  1. Reduced number of items – the adult version has 12 items and the youth version has 8 items only
  2. Substantial language changes (including specific references to Anishinaabe identity)
  3. Response scale adapted to a 3-point Likert scale (never, a few times, many times)

Modality and administration

Self-report; this measure is administered via in-person/phone interviews

Scoring

Responses follow a 3-point Likert scale (Never, A few times, Many times) with a Don’t Know/Refuse to Answer option. Responses are assigned numerical values from 0-2 (never = 0) and summed for a total score.

Psychometric evidence

  • Landrine et al. 1996
    • Recent racist events α: .94
    • Lifetime racist events α: .95
    • Appraised racist events α: .93
  • Kading et al. 2015
    • Cronbach’s α = .84
  • Walls et al. 2006
    • Cronbach’s α = .90

Citation(s)

  • Landrine, H., & Klonoff, E. A. (1996). The schedule of racist events: A measure of racial discrimination and a study of its negative physical and mental health consequences. Journal of Black Psychology, 22(2), 144–168. https://doi.org/10.1177/00957984960222002
  • Greenfield, B. L., Sittner, K. J., Forbes, M. K., Walls, M. L., & Whitbeck, L. (2017).Conduct disorder and alcohol use disorder trajectories, predictors, and outcomes for Indigenous youth. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 56(2),133-139.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2016.11.009
  • Kading, M. L., Hautala, D. S., Palombi, L. C., Aronson, B. D., Smith, R. C., & Walls, M. (2015). Flourishing: American Indian positive mental health. Social and Mental Health, 5(3), 203-217. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156869315570480
  • Magarati, M., Chambers, R. S., Yenokyan, G., Rosenstock, S., Walls, M., Slimp, A, Larzelere, F., Lee, A., Pinal, L.,& Tingey, L. (2022). Predictors of STD screening from the Indigenist Stress-Coping Model among Native adults with binge substance use. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.829539
  • Walls, M.L., Johnson, K.D., Whitbeck, L. B., & Hoyt, D. (2006). Mental health and substance abuse services preferences among American Indian people of the northern Midwest. Community Mental Health Journal, 42(6), 521-35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-006-9054-7
  • Walls, M. L., Whitbeck, L., & Armenta, B. A. (2016). Cautionary tale: Examining the interplay of culturally specific risk and resilience factors in Indigenous communities. Clinical Psychological Science, 4(4), 732-743. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702616645795