NCT05818228

Reducing Self-Stigma Among Individuals with History of Childhood Maltreatment

Reducing Self-Stigma Among Individuals with History of Childhood Maltreatment: a Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 685 (actual)
• Sponsor: Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Individuals who report experiencing any kind of abuse during childhood report shame and self-blame, often leading to self-stigma and a reluctance to reveal their experiences and seek help. Such stigma may aggravate the mental health consequences of child maltreatment (CM). The aim of the proposed study is twofold: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief video-based intervention in reducing self-stigma among individuals who experienced childhood abuse and/or maltreatment, and (2) to increase openness to seeking treatment.

Detailed description

Prior research suggests that social contact-based interventions are the most efficient way of reducing stigma. This study aims to address self-stigma and empower individuals who self-reported experiencing any kind of abuse during childhood and increase their openness to seeking help, if needed. A total of 1000 adults with self-report experience of any kind of childhood abuse will be recruited to participate in a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) testing the efficacy of the intervention. Participants will be randomized into one of two arms: 1) A 2-minute video intervention in which a CM survivor (presented by either a female or male actor) shares their personal CM experience and describes how they were able to overcome feelings of shame and self-blame to seek mental health care; or 2) A 2-minute control video using the same actors, but without CM-related content. Both videos will be preceded by and immediately followed by questionnaires assessing self-stigma and openness to seeking treatment. An additional assessment of emotional engagement will be added immediately following intervention delivery. Following the intervention, there will be a 30-day follow-up to examine potential long-term effects.

Conditions

• Stigma, Social
• Child Abuse
• Child Neglect
• Help-Seeking Behavior

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Video	A short video aimed at reducing self-stigma among individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment and increasing their help seeking intentions (if needed).

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-04-26
• Primary completion: 2023-09-30
• Completion: 2023-09-30
• First posted: 2023-04-18
• Last updated: 2025-02-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States