Building resilience for transgender and nonbinary people using Metaverse support groups
Evaluating the Efficacy of Virtual Support Groups Fostering Resilience for Gender Diverse People: a Randomized Clinical Trial in the Metaverse
This project will test whether joining support groups in a Metaverse virtual world helps transgender and nonbinary people strengthen resilience and self-compassion compared with an online forum or waitlist.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 45 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Bucharest Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Bucharest, Bucharest) |
| Trial ID | NCT06959992 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized clinical trial assigns gender-diverse adults to one of three arms: an immersive Metaverse support group, a standard online asynchronous forum, or a waitlist control. Group sessions use avatar customization and social interaction to encourage expression of gender identity and practice handling social challenges in a virtual environment. Participants complete measures before the intervention, mid-sessions, after the intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up to track changes in resilience, self-compassion, and well-being. The target enrollment is 123 people (about 41 per arm) to allow detection of small-to-medium effects while accounting for dropouts.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) who identify as transgender, nonbinary, or otherwise gender diverse (including those questioning) with a stable gender identity, no formal mental disorder diagnosis, and the ability to access online Metaverse or forum sessions are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 18, individuals with a formal psychiatric diagnosis, those not part of the gender-minority population, or people unable or unwilling to use online/virtual platforms are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a scalable virtual option that improves resilience and self-compassion in gender-diverse adults.
How similar studies have performed: Online peer-support and forum interventions have shown some benefits for well-being in gender-minority groups, but immersive Metaverse-based support groups are largely novel and not yet widely tested in randomized trials.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Gender diverse people with a stable gender-identity or questioning Exclusion Criteria: * Formally diagnosed with a mental disorder * Not being part of the gender minority population * Younger than 18
Where this trial is running
Bucharest, Bucharest
- University of Bucharest — Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Cezar Giosan, PhD — University of Bucharest
- Study coordinator: Cezar Giosan, PhD
- Email: giosan@outlook.com
- Phone: +40730908050
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.