Online Intervention for Transgender Young Adults' Alcohol Use

Overseen By Gabriel R Murchison, PhD MPH

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Boston University

Disqualifiers: Inauthentic participants

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to enhance a new online tool called Whole Selves, designed specifically for transgender and nonbinary young adults. It helps users reflect on their alcohol use and romantic relationships, areas often overlooked by other programs. Researchers seek to determine if participants find the tool helpful and if it functions as intended. They are looking for transgender or nonbinary individuals, aged 18 to 30, who are currently in a romantic relationship. Participants will use the tool and provide feedback through online surveys.

As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a tool that could significantly benefit the community.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on an online intervention, so it's unlikely that medication changes are required.

What prior data suggests that this intervention is safe for transgender and nonbinary young adults?

Research has shown that online programs for alcohol use and relationships often fail to meet the needs of transgender and nonbinary people. The Whole Selves program addresses this gap by focusing specifically on these communities. This program involves no medication or medical procedures, eliminating typical medical side effects. Participants will use an online platform and complete surveys, with minimal risks primarily related to the privacy of sharing personal information. The program aims to help users reflect on their experiences and goals in a supportive and safe online space. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Whole Selves intervention because it offers a personalized and accessible approach to addressing alcohol use among transgender young adults. Unlike traditional therapy or medication-based treatments, Whole Selves is an online intervention, which means it's easily accessible and can be tailored to the unique experiences and challenges faced by transgender individuals. This method focuses on holistic self-awareness and empowerment, aiming to foster healthier lifestyle choices without the barriers of physical attendance or the stigma often associated with conventional treatments.

What evidence suggests that the Whole Selves intervention is effective for transgender/nonbinary young adults' alcohol use?

Research shows that transgender and nonbinary young adults often struggle with high rates of alcohol misuse. Studies have found that this group faces more challenges with substance use, including alcohol, compared to others. In this trial, participants will receive the Whole Selves program, designed to address these specific issues by focusing on alcohol use and romantic relationships in transgender and nonbinary young adults. Although direct evidence on the effectiveness of Whole Selves is limited, the program aims to offer a personalized approach that considers the unique needs and experiences of its participants. This could lead to better results in reducing alcohol misuse among those who take part. ^{2 5 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Gabriel R Murchison, PhD MPH

Principal Investigator

Boston University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for transgender and/or nonbinary young adults who are interested in exploring their experiences with alcohol use and romantic relationships. Participants should be willing to engage with an online resource, complete surveys about their mental health, relationship experiences, and alcohol consumption.

Inclusion Criteria

Residency in the United States

I identify as transgender and/or nonbinary.

Able to read and write in English

Exclusion Criteria

Prospective participants will be excluded as potentially inauthentic (i.e., not genuinely eligible for the study) based on scoring criteria developed through the investigators' prior online survey research with similar populations.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 phone call

Intervention

Participants use the Whole Selves online intervention, which takes about 40 minutes, to reflect on their alcohol use and romantic relationships.

1 day

Remote participation using personal device

Assessment

Participants complete surveys about their background, romantic relationship experiences, mental health, and alcohol use at baseline, 30 days, and 90 days.

90 days

3 online surveys

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in alcohol use, depression, anxiety, and relationship satisfaction after the intervention.

90 days

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Whole Selves

Trial Overview The study tests 'Whole Selves,' an online intervention designed specifically for trans/nonbinary individuals. It aims to help them reflect on alcohol use and relationships. The trial seeks feedback to improve the program, assess its effectiveness, and plan larger future trials.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Whole Selves Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants assigned to this arm will receive the Whole Selves intervention and complete assessment surveys at baseline, 30 days, and 90 days.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Boston University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

494

Recruited

9,998,000+

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Collaborator

Trials

865

Recruited

1,091,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Transgender college students engage in higher-risk drinking behaviors compared to their cisgender peers, consuming alcohol more frequently and in greater quantities, which leads to a higher incidence of alcohol-related blackouts (36% vs. 25%).

The motivations for drinking among transgender students often include stress reduction, social anxiety, and self-esteem issues, indicating a need for targeted support and intervention strategies to address their unique challenges.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Alcohol-Related Blackouts, Negative Alcohol-Related Consequences, and Motivations for Drinking Reported by Newly Matriculating Transgender College Students. Tupler, LA., Zapp, D., DeJong, W., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06392542

Online Intervention for Transgender/Nonbinary Young ... Whole Selves is a brief online self-guided intervention addressing transgender/nonbinary young adults' experiences with alcohol use and romantic relationships.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5911250/

Alcohol research with transgender populations: A systematic ... Reviewing the extant evidence, the IOM report (2011) concluded that alcohol misuse was highly prevalent in transgender populations, particularly in early to ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953625006616

Substance use among transgender and gender ... Growing literature has found TGNC youth experience a disproportionately greater substance use burden, reporting higher rates of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, ...

4. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15532739.2025.2471903?af=R

Full article: Exploring alcohol use and harm reduction ... This study examines the lived/living experiences of Canadian TGD youth (ages 18-29), focusing on their experiences of GMS and resilience as it pertains to ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7901266/

Patterns of Alcohol Use Among Transgender Patients ... In descriptive group comparisons, transgender patients had significantly lower prevalence of unhealthy alcohol use than nontransgender patients, but ...

6. samhsa.gov samhsa.gov/

Home | SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health ... SAMHSA leads efforts to advance behavioral health across the U.S., offering resources for mental health, substance use, and community well-being.

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740547221002658

A scoping review of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use ... Few substance use interventions exist for sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults. •. From 1985 to 2019, there were 71 published SGM substance use intervention ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8945921/

Substance Use in the Transgender Population: A Meta- ... (1) Background: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the relationship between identifying as transgender and substance use.