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

107 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The objective of this study is to learn more about Whole Selves, an interactive online resource ("intervention") to help transgender and/or nonbinary young adults reflect on their experiences and goals related to both alcohol use and romantic relationships. Existing online interventions focused on alcohol use often aren't a good fit for trans/nonbinary people, and existing relationship education programs don't account for how being trans/nonbinary might influence someone's relationships. For these reasons, the investigator is working with trans/nonbinary young adults and other community stakeholders to create a new intervention specifically for trans/nonbinary young adults. The goals of this clinical trial are to: 1. Find out what transgender/nonbinary young adults think of the Whole Selves intervention in order to improve it 2. See whether the Whole Selves intervention seems to work as expected 3. Help the investigator make plans for a bigger clinical trial of the Whole Selves intervention, which could tell us how well it works In this study, participants will use the Whole Selves intervention; complete online surveys about themselves, their romantic relationship experiences, their mental health, their alcohol use; and provide feedback on the Whole Selves intervention.

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.

How is the Whole Selves treatment different from other treatments for alcohol use in transgender young adults?

The Whole Selves treatment is unique because it is an online intervention specifically designed to be culturally sensitive and tailored to the needs of transgender young adults, addressing the lack of existing treatments that consider the unique stressors and stigma faced by this population. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Research Team

Gabriel R Murchison, PhD MPH

Principal Investigator

Boston University

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A descriptive analysis of alcohol behaviors across gender subgroups within a sample of transgender adults. [2018]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Transgender and non-binary people's experiences with alcohol reduction in the UK: A cross-sectional study. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Transgender and gender diverse adults' reflections on alcohol counseling and recommendations for providers. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Systematic Review of Interventions to Reduce Problematic Substance Use Among Transgender Individuals: A Call to Action. [2023]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Alcohol-Related Blackouts, Negative Alcohol-Related Consequences, and Motivations for Drinking Reported by Newly Matriculating Transgender College Students. [2022]