Bridging language and culture: The LGBTQ Caregiver Acceptance Scale's Spanish ( LCAS ‐S) translation and validation among Latinx caregivers

Abstract

Although family acceptance varies across cultural contexts, it consistently predicts wellness among LGBTQ+ people. We validated a Spanish‐language adaptation of the LGBTQ+ Caregiver Acceptance Scale (LCAS‐S) to assess culturally grounded expressions of acceptance and rejection among Spanish‐speaking Latinx caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth. Following procedures from the LCAS development study, the 40‐item measure was translated and back‐translated using established guidelines to ensure linguistic and conceptual equivalence. A total of 256 Spanish‐speaking Latinx caregivers participated, representing 15 countries of origin; the largest groups were born in the United States (46%), Mexico (20%), Puerto Rico (12%), and Cuba (6%). Scale validation included internal consistency reliability, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and convergent validity testing with established measures of caregiver acceptance, family functioning, and homonegativity. The LCAS‐S demonstrated strong overall reliability ( α  = .89) and yielded a six‐factor structure: Concealment and Respeto, Supportive Actions, Public Opinion, Fear of Family Rejection, Affirming the LGBTQ+ Child's Place in the Family, and Outness. The factor structure both overlapped with and diverged meaningfully from the English version. Convergent validity patterns aligned with theoretical expectations, with restrictive dimensions correlating positively with family conflict and homonegativity and affirming dimensions correlating positively with acceptance‐related constructs. Findings provide preliminary empirical support for the LCAS‐S as a culturally and linguistically responsive tool for researchers and practitioners seeking to understand and promote acceptance among Spanish‐speaking Latinx caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth in the United States.