NCT06691282

A Self-compassion Intervention for LGBTQ+ Individuals

A Self-compassion Intervention for LGBTQ+ Individuals: a Feasibility Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 17 (actual)
• Sponsor: Hong Kong Metropolitan University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Gender and sexual minorities often face minority stress, leading to body dissatisfaction and potential psychological issues like anxiety and depression. Self-compassion has been identified as an effective strategy for managing emotions during negative experiences and may serve as a protective factor against minority stress and body image concerns. However, research on self-compassion interventions specifically for LGBTQ+ individuals is limited. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a self-compassion intervention to enhance body image and psychological well-being among LGBTQ+ individuals in Hong Kong.

Detailed description

Gender and sexual minorities often experience minority stress, which could lead to negative thoughts and feelings of their bodies. The substantial body dissatisfaction may contribute to psychological issues such as anxiety and depression. Self-compassion has emerged as an adaptive methods for regulating emotions in response to negative experience and perceived personal failures. Research indicates that self-compassion could act as protective factors of sexual minority stress and body image concerns. However, there is currently a lack of studies investigating the effectiveness of the self-compassion based intervention in improving body image and psychological outcomes among LGBTQ+ individuals. The proposed study aims to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a self-compassion intervention for body image and psychological well-being among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals in Hong Kong.

Conditions

• LGBTQ
• Mental Health
• Body Image
• Self-Compassion

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Mindful self-compassion intervention	Participants will receive six weekly sessions of training by a trainer in mindful self-compassion (MSC). Each session lasting around 90 minutes and will be conducted face-to-face at the Hong Kong Metropolitan University. The content of the intervention will include an introduction of mindfulness and self-compassion, practice of body awareness and loving kindness, skills to deal with challenging experiences, and methods for relating to positive aspects of the self.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-12-21
• Primary completion: 2025-01-30
• Completion: 2025-04-30
• First posted: 2024-11-15
• Last updated: 2025-05-11

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Hong Kong