Feasibility and Acceptability of Mindful Self-Compassion Among Transgender and Nonbinary Young Adults
Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of Mindful Self-Compassion Among Transgender and Nonbinary Young Adults
University of Rhode Island
50 participants
Jun 12, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The goal of this single-arm feasibility study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an 8-week mindful self-compassion intervention and associated data-collection plan among transgender and nonbinary young adults. Participants will be asked to: * Complete weekly 2.5-hour virtual classes for 8 weeks and a 4-hour virtual retreat * Practice specific activities in between classes for 20-30 minutes a day * Answer survey questions before starting the intervention, half-way through the intervention, after the intervention, and 3-months after the intervention ends.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria3
- transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer (or another non-cisgender identity)
- have reliable access to a smart phone or computer/tablet and the Internet and is reasonably able to make the time commitment required of the program (self-report)
- speak and understand English
Exclusion Criteria17
- has had formal mindfulness training (i.e. mindfulness-based stress reduction course) or engages in regular mindfulness practice (15 minutes more than twice a week for the last six months or more)
- Score 15 or higher on the patient health questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8)
- Score 2 or higher on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
- Experienced an acute physical health crisis (e.g., chemotherapy, recovery from severe injury) (Germer \& Neff, 2019, p. 80) in the past year
- Head trauma, seizure, or loss of consciousness in the past 6 months
- Reports a history of trauma AND Scores 14 or higher on Post-Traumatic Checklist, 6-item Civilian version
- Reports a diagnosis of a personality disorder
- Reports a diagnosis of schizophrenia or a history of psychosis
- Reports acute panic attack in the past month and history of acute panic attacks with concern/worry about having another one in the future OR Reports severe social anxiety which would make attending class too difficult
- Reports an acute episode of psychosis or suicide attempt in the past 12 months
- Has engaged in non-suicidal self-injury in the past 6 months
- Currently prescribed antipsychotic medications, benzodiazepine (equivalent to 30mg diazepam/day) or opioids (>40mg morphine equivalent/day)
- Prescribed any other psychiatric medication, including medication for opioid use disorder, whose dose has been changed in the past 8 weeks or is anticipated to change in the next 2 months.
- Currently engage in harmful drinking (5 or more drinks on one occasion (Flentje et al., 2020) more than once in the past 2 weeks; OR have any concerns about the expectation to not be using substances during group sessions
- has undergone detoxification from alcohol or other drugs and has been in sustained remission (with or without medication) for less than 1 year
- Has been hospitalized overnight for mental health related reasons in the past year (any diagnoses except bipolar disorder) OR have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and have had an episode of mania or have been hospitalized in the past 2 years
- Reports any other acute physical or mental illness symptoms that may make group participation difficult
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Interventions
MSC is an 8-week virtual intervention with weekly 2.5-hour sessions and a 4-hour retreat (between sessions 5 and 6) which will take place online via HIPAA-compliant Zoom. Each weekly session includes an opening meditation, reflection on weekly practice, short teaching, a weekly core meditation or informal practice discussion, short break, brief centering practice, weekly core reflective activity and discussion, and self compassion skill of the week practice. The 4-hour retreat is focused on engaging with the formal practices that have been taught in weeks 1-5.
Locations(1)
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NCT06409975