A Gender-Affirming Stigma Intervention to Improve Substance Misuse and HIV Risk Among Transgender Women
Illinois Institute of Technology
Summary
This study is testing a new mutual-help group called "the TLC program" for transgender adults who use substances or are recently in recovery. The TLC Program is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or "ACT" which is a type of mental health counseling that focuses on using mindfulness skills to connect a person to their values and improve their mental health. The TLC Program was developed by transgender and gender diverse community members, mental health providers, and researchers.
Description
Transgender (trans) populations are disproportionately impacted by HIV compared to the general population (nearly 1 in 7 trans women are living with HIV; 3.2% of trans men are living with HIV compared to 0.3% in the general U.S. population). Trans people also experience stigma rooted in systems of oppression. To prevent the forward transmission of HIV, public health officials emphasize the need for consistent condom use, regular HIV testing, and linkage to HIV prevention and care services. Stigma, however, interferes with trans individuals' ability to engage in HIV prevention and care due to i…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: Eligible transgender adults must: 1. be 18 years of age or older; 2. speak primarily English; 3. live in the U.S.; 4. have a gender identity different from their assumed gender, or sex assigned, at birth; 5. identify as a person of transgender experience; 6. endorse having experienced two or more problem(s) related to alcohol or other drug use within the past 12 months.
Interventions
- BehavioralThe TLC Program
Participants randomized to the TLC Program will receive TAU plus the telehealth, peer-delivered group intervention. The TLC Program was adapted from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - an acceptance and mindfulness-based third wave cognitive behavioral therapy. The intervention will be delivered in a group format with peer facilitators via telehealth using videoconferencing. The protocol covers all six ACT core concepts (i.e., contact with the present, acceptance, defusion, self-as-context, values, and committed action) with tailored examples and exercises focused on gender affirmation, internalized stigma, and substance use. Additional sessions are included defining stigma, how stigma affects physical and sexual health and engagement with healthcare, and values-driven self-care goals of substance use reduction and healthcare engagement. Sessions are approximately 1.5 hours each and are delivered over 12 weeks.
Location
- Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, Illinois