Self-CompassionNCT07809529
An "EmbraceMe" Self-compassion Intervention for Transgender and Gender-diverse People in Hong Kong
A study testing "Embraceme" self-compassion intervention in people with Self-Compassion, run by Hong Kong Metropolitan University at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
This proposed pilot study aims to evaluate the "EmbraceMe", a self-compassion intervention to improve positive body image and mental health among transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people in Hong Kong. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Self-Compassion
- What is being tested?
- "Embraceme" self-compassion intervention
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 70 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 1 Nov 2026to 30 Apr 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- aged 18 years or above;
- self-identified as a transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individual;
- sufficient comprehension of Cantonese;
- currently livein Hong Kong;
- able to provide informed consent.
Who cannot join
- currently experiencing psychosis;
- having an intellectual disability;
- experiencing current suicidal ideation (score ≥ 4) as measured using the Columbiasuicide severity rating scale
- currently enrolled in or have previously received similarservices or interventions.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hong Kong1 site
School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
Hong Kong, 999077
Haixia Ma, PhD, (852) 3970 2990, phxma@hkmu.edu.hk
About this study
Official title: An "EmbraceMe" Self-compassion Intervention for Body Image and Mental Health of Transgender and Gender-diverse People in Hong Kong: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
This proposed pilot study aims to evaluate the "EmbraceMe", a self-compassion intervention to improve positive body image and mental health among transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people in Hong Kong.
Read the detailed description
- To assess the feasibility of the intervention.
- To investigate the acceptability of the intervention.
- To evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of the intervention in improving self-compassion, body image, and mental health outcomes.
- Conditions
- Self-Compassion
- Being tested
- "Embraceme" self-compassion intervention
- Keywords
- transgender and gender-diverse people, stigma, self-compassion, body image, mental health
- Medical subject headings
- Social Stigma, Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
"Embraceme" self-compassion interventionOther
Participants in the "EmbraceMe" intervention group will receive group-based self-compassion intervention comprising five consecutive weekly sessions, with each session lasting 2 hours (totaling 10 hours). Each session will include an introduction, guided exercises, group discussions and home practice.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| "EmbraceMe" intervention group | Experimental | Participants in the "EmbraceMe" intervention group will receive group-based self-compassion intervention comprising five consecutive weekly sessions, with each session lasting 2 hours (totaling 10 hours). Receives: Other: "Embraceme" self-compassion intervention |
| Waiting-list control group | No intervention | Participants in the waiting-list control group will receive the "EmbraceMe" intervention after thecompletion of the intervention at a 3-month follow-up. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Feasibility outcomes
Completion rate: In each group, the completion rate is defined as the number of participants who complete outcome measurements at immediate post-intervention and 3-month follow-up divided by those who are randomized.
Measured: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Secondary outcomes (7)
Acceptability
The acceptability of the intervention will be assessed using a self-developed online acceptancequestionnaire. It consists of 10 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = very dissatisfied, 5 = very satisfied).
Furthermore, semi-structured individual interviews will be conducted to explore the participants' experiences of the intervention.
Measured: Immediately after the intervention
Self-compassion
Self-compassion will be measured using the short version of the self-compassion scale. It has 12 items. The total score ranges from 12 to 60, with higher scores indicating a higher level of self-compassion.
Measured: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Internalized stigma
Internalized stigma will be measured by the Chinese version of the self-stigma scale. It has 9 items. The total score ranges from 9 to 36, with higher scores indicating a higher level of internalized stigma.
Measured: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Self-esteem
Self-esteem will be assessed by the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RES). It has 10 items. The total score ranges from 10 to 40, with higher scores indicating highlevels of self-esteem.
Measured: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Body appreciation
Body appreciation will be measured by the body appreciation scale (BAS-2). It has 10 items. The total score ranges from 5 to 50, with higher scores representing a higher level of body appreciation.
Measured: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Anxiety
Anxiety symptoms will be screened using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale(GAD-7). It has 7 items. The total score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores representing a higher level of anxiety.
Measured: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Depression
Depression will be measured using the 9-item Patient HealthQuestionnaire (PHQ-9). It has nine items. The total score ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating a higher level of depression.
Measured: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Sep 2026
- Study start1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Apr 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Apr 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Self-CompassionStudies 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants in the "EmbraceMe" intervention group will receive group-based self-compassion intervention comprising five consecutive weekly sessions, with each session lasting 2 hours (totaling 10 hours).
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (estimated)
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, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07809529
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HE-HMRF2025/03
- Other IDs
- 23240231
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 9 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Due to the sensitive nature of the participant population (transgender and gender-diverse individuals), we will only share the individual participant data (IPD) that directly underpin the results presented in the publication.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- An "EmbraceMe" Self-compassion Intervention for Body Image and Mental Health of Transgender and Gender-diverse People in Hong Kong: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07809529
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HE-HMRF2025/03
- Conditions
- Self-Compassion
- Keywords
- transgender and gender-diverse people, stigma, self-compassion, body image, mental health
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Hong Kong Metropolitan UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Apr 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Apr 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Sep 2026 (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.
This proposed pilot study aims to evaluate the "EmbraceMe", a self-compassion intervention to improve positive body image and mental health among transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people in Hong Kong.
Detailed description
- To assess the feasibility of the intervention.
- To investigate the acceptability of the intervention.
- To evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of the intervention in improving self-compassion, body image, and mental health outcomes.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants in the "EmbraceMe" intervention group will receive group-based self-compassion intervention comprising five consecutive weekly sessions, with each session lasting 2 hours (totaling 10 hours).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| "EmbraceMe" intervention group | Experimental | Other: "Embraceme" self-compassion interventionParticipants in the "EmbraceMe" intervention group will receive group-based self-compassion intervention comprising five consecutive weekly sessions, with each session lasting 2 hours (totaling 10 hours). |
| Waiting-list control group | No intervention | –Participants in the waiting-list control group will receive the "EmbraceMe" intervention after thecompletion of the intervention at a 3-month follow-up. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- aged 18 years or above;
- self-identified as a transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individual;
- sufficient comprehension of Cantonese;
- currently livein Hong Kong;
- able to provide informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- currently experiencing psychosis;
- having an intellectual disability;
- experiencing current suicidal ideation (score ≥ 4) as measured using the Columbiasuicide severity rating scale
- currently enrolled in or have previously received similarservices or interventions.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| "Embraceme" self-compassion interventionParticipants in the "EmbraceMe" intervention group will receive group-based self-compassion intervention comprising five consecutive weekly sessions, with each session lasting 2 hours (totaling 10 hours). Each session will include an introduction, guided exercises, group discussions and home practice. | Other | "EmbraceMe" intervention group |
Primary outcome
Feasibility outcomes
Time frame: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Completion rate: In each group, the completion rate is defined as the number of participants who complete outcome measurements at immediate post-intervention and 3-month follow-up divided by those who are randomized.
7 secondary outcomes
Acceptability
Time frame: Immediately after the intervention
Self-compassion
Time frame: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Internalized stigma
Time frame: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Self-esteem
Time frame: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Body appreciation
Time frame: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Anxiety
Time frame: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Depression
Time frame: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 9 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Due to the sensitive nature of the participant population (transgender and gender-diverse individuals), we will only share the individual participant data (IPD) that directly underpin the results presented in the publication.
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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.
Haixia MA, PhD principal investigator
School of Nursing and Health Sciences, 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 "Embraceme" self-compassion intervention in people with Self-Compassion, 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 4 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Sep 2026. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Haixia MA, PhD ((852) 3970-2990 ext. 2990, phxma@hkmu.edu.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Feasibility outcomes (time frame: Baseline; immediately after the intervention; 3-month post-intervention.). 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 9 Sep 2026.