Expressive Writing Intervention Study

University of Wisconsin (UW)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Distress, Emotional

Treatments: Other: Expressive writing about events of the day; Other: Letter of Gratitude; Other: Expressive writing in response to vignette

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05782868

NUR/ACAD SVCS/ACAD SVCS (Other Identifier)

2022-1711

Protocol Version 11/28/2022 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to test to what extent an expressive writing intervention may reduce internalized anti-TNB (trans and nonbinary) stigma and promote well-being over time. Trans and/or nonbinary people may take part in this study, and can expect to participate for 3 months.

Full description

This study aims to decrease internalized transnegativity and to promote positive and affirming thoughts and emotions related to being transgender/nonbinary through a novel four-day expressive writing intervention. Participants will be trans/nonbinary English-speaking adults (18+) who reside in the US. They will be randomized to one of three study conditions (control, affirming identity, affirming identity + strengthening social connection) and will be enrolled in the study for period of 3 months (baseline, four day intervention, Days 7, 30, and 90 follow up).

Enrollment: 117 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years of age or older
• transgender or nonbinary
• access to a phone, computer, and/or device from which they can access the surveys and daily writing session tasks
• ability to read and write English

Exclusion criteria

• cisgender individuals
• self-reported severe levels of psychological distress

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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117 participants in 3 patient groups

TNB Identity Affirmation (IA) Condition

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the IA only intervention condition will receive the same prompt for all four days of writing, a design used in expressive writing interventions to allow for deeper and continued reflection into specific thoughts and emotions.

Treatment:

Other: Expressive writing in response to vignette

IA + Strengthening Social Connections (SSC) Condition

Experimental group

Description:

For participants in the IA+SSC condition, participants will complete the IA intervention on the first three days. On the fourth day, participants will be directed to compose a brief letter.

Treatment:

Other: Expressive writing in response to vignette

Other: Letter of Gratitude

Control Condition

Experimental group

Description:

Expressive writing assignment, without prompts.

Treatment:

Other: Expressive writing about events of the day