LGBTQNCT06691282
A Self-compassion Intervention for LGBTQ+ Individuals
A study testing Mindful self-compassion intervention in people with LGBTQ and Mental Health, run by Hong Kong Metropolitan University at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial 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… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- LGBTQ, Mental Health, Body Image
- What is being tested?
- Mindful self-compassion intervention
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 17 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 21 Dec 2024to 30 Apr 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 18 years or above;
- Self-identified as LGBTQ+;
- Able to speak, read, and write Cantonese or Putonghua;
- Willing to participate in the study and share their experience of the intervention with the research team;
- Provide written informed consent to participate in the study.
Who cannot join
- Current psychosis or intellectual disability;
- Current suicidal ideation with intent (score ≥ 4) as measured using the Columbia suicide severity rating scale;
- Participation in similar studies.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: A Self-compassion Intervention for LGBTQ+ Individuals: a Feasibility Study
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.
Read the 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
- Being tested
- Mindful self-compassion intervention
- Keywords
- LGBT, mental health, self-compassion, body image
- Medical subject headings
- Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mindful self-compassion interventionOther
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Self-compassion group | Experimental | Participants in the intervention group will receive 6 weeks self-compassion training. Receives: Other: Mindful self-compassion intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Self-compassion
Self-compassion, will be measured with the Chinese version of the short version of self-compassion. It has 12 items, and each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1=almost never, 5= almost always). The total score ranged from 12 to 60, with the higher score indicating a higher level of self-compassion.
Measured: Through study completion, on average 4 weeks
Internalized stigma
Internalized stigma will be measured by the Chinese version of the 9-item self-stigma scale, which assesses cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of internalized stigma. The nine items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 4 = strongly agree), with a higher score indicating a higher level of internalized stigma. The scale has shown excellent internal consistency in Chinese sexual minorities, with a Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.92 to 0.93.
Measured: Through study completion, on average 4 weeks
Secondary outcomes (5)
Body image
Body image, will be assessed through the Chinese version of the body appreciation scale (BAS-2). It has 10 items, All items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always). The total score ranges from 5 to 50, with the higher score representing a higher level of body appreciation.
Measured: Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks
Anxiety
Anxiety, evaluated using the Chinese version of the generalized anxiety disorders (GAD). It has 7 items, each item is rated on a 4-point Liker scale, from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly everyday). The total score ranges from 0 to 21, with the higher score representing a higher level of anxiety.
Measured: Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks
Depression
Depression will be measured using the Chinese version of the 9-item patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9). Every item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale, from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly everyday). The total score ranges from 0 to 27, with the higher score representing a higher level of depression.
Measured: Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks
Self-objectification
Self-objectification will be measured using the body surveillance and body shame subscales of the Chinese version of the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS)-body surveillance subscale. The two subscales consist of 14 items. Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), with higher scores indicating higher levels of body surveillance and body shame. The Cronbach's alpha for body surveillance was 0.80 for Chinese women and 0.81 for Chinese men, and the Cronbach's alpha for body shame was 0.70 for both Chinese women and men.
Measured: Through study completion, on average 4 weeks
self-esteem
Participants' self-esteem was assessed by the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RES) [25]. The RES is a 10-item scale that measures self-esteem on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). The total score is calculated by summing the responses, with higher scores indicating high levels of self-esteem. The Chinese version of RES has demonstrated reliability among PWUD with a Cronbach's α of 0.76.
Measured: Through study completion, on average 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Nov 2024
- Study start21 Dec 2024
- Primary completion30 Jan 2025
- Study completion30 Apr 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for LGBTQStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hong Kong Metropolitan University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dr Polly MA Haixia, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
- Investigators
- Haixia Ma, PhD, Principal investigator, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06691282
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HE-RGC2024/NHS14
- Status last verified
- Dec 2024
- First submitted
- 11 Nov 2024
- Last updated
- 11 May 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: To ensure participant confidentiality, individual data will remain private and will not be shared.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 May 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Self-compassion Intervention for LGBTQ+ Individuals: a Feasibility Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06691282
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HE-RGC2024/NHS14
- Conditions
- LGBTQ, Mental Health, Body Image, Self-Compassion
- Keywords
- LGBT, mental health, self-compassion, body image
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Hong Kong Metropolitan UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Apr 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 15 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Self-compassion group | Experimental | Other: Mindful self-compassion interventionParticipants in the intervention group will receive 6 weeks self-compassion training. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Aged 18 years or above;
- Self-identified as LGBTQ+;
- Able to speak, read, and write Cantonese or Putonghua;
- Willing to participate in the study and share their experience of the intervention with the research team;
- Provide written informed consent to participate in the study.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Current psychosis or intellectual disability;
- Current suicidal ideation with intent (score ≥ 4) as measured using the Columbia suicide severity rating scale;
- Participation in similar studies.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Mindful self-compassion interventionParticipants 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. | Other | Self-compassion group |
Primary outcome
Self-compassion
Time frame: Through study completion, on average 4 weeks
Self-compassion, will be measured with the Chinese version of the short version of self-compassion. It has 12 items, and each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1=almost never, 5= almost always). The total score ranged from 12 to 60, with the higher score indicating a higher level of self-compassion.
Internalized stigma
Time frame: Through study completion, on average 4 weeks
Internalized stigma will be measured by the Chinese version of the 9-item self-stigma scale, which assesses cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of internalized stigma. The nine items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 4 = strongly agree), with a higher score indicating a higher level of internalized stigma. The scale has shown excellent internal consistency in Chinese sexual minorities, with a Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.92 to 0.93.
5 secondary outcomes
Body image
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks
Anxiety
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks
Depression
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks
Self-objectification
Time frame: Through study completion, on average 4 weeks
self-esteem
Time frame: Through study completion, on average 4 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 May 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. To ensure participant confidentiality, individual data will remain private and will not be shared.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Haixia Ma, PhD principal investigator
Hong Kong Metropolitan University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Mindful self-compassion intervention in people with LGBTQ and Mental Health, run by Hong Kong Metropolitan University at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 May 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Self-compassion (time frame: Through study completion, on average 4 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 May 2025.