Gender-affirming program to reduce stigma, substance use, and HIV risk for transgender women
A Gender-Affirming Stigma Intervention to Improve Substance Misuse and HIV Risk among Transgender Women
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · NIH-11360092
This program teaches gender-affirming coping skills to transgender women to reduce stigma-related distress, lower substance use, and reduce behaviors that increase HIV risk.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11360092 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would help adapt Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) using community input so the content fits transgender women's experiences. The team will run a small open pilot delivered by trained peers to refine the sessions and materials. After the pilot, they will conduct a larger, rigorous test of the peer-delivered, gender-affirming ACT to measure effects on internalized stigma, distress, healthcare avoidance, substance misuse, and HIV risk behaviors. Sessions are planned to be delivered in community settings by non-therapist peers and may include skills for coping with daily stigma and connecting to care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are transgender women who experience stigma and psychological distress and who use substances or are at increased risk for HIV.
Not a fit: People who are not transgender women, who do not have stigma-related substance use or HIV risk, or who require intensive psychiatric treatment are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help transgender women feel less stigma, reduce substance use, and lower their risk of HIV infection.
How similar studies have performed: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and peer-led interventions have shown promise for reducing stigma and distress in other groups, but a gender-affirming, peer-delivered ACT specifically for transgender women is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GUY, ARRYN ALEIA — ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- Study coordinator: GUY, ARRYN ALEIA
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus