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Finlay-Jones A, Strauss P, Perry Y, Waters Z, Gilbey D, Windred MA, Murdoch A, Pugh C, Ohan JL, Lin A. Group mindful self-compassion training to improve mental health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ young adults: Rationale and protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials 2021; 102:106268. [PMID: 33421648 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young adults who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse genders and sexualities (LGBTQIA+) are more likely to experience mental health difficulties and are at significantly elevated risk of substance abuse, self-harm and suicide, relative to their heterosexual, endosex and cisgender peers. There is a need for effective mental health interventions for LGBTQIA+ young adults. Mindful Self-Compassion training is a promising approach; among LGBTQIA+ individuals, self-compassion accounts for more variation in mental health outcomes than bullying, victimization, and adverse childhood experiences combined. Furthermore, LGBTQIA+ individuals with high self-compassion report more positive identity and happiness, less self-stigma, and lower suicidality than those with low self-compassion. METHOD This paper outlines the rationale and protocol for a single-blind CONSORT-compliant randomised controlled trial, comparing group Mindful Self-Compassion to a delayed-treatment waitlist control group, for improving mental health, decreasing self-criticism and increasing self-compassion in LGBTQIA+ young adults (age 18-25 years). Mindful Self-Compassion training is an 8-week group program that focuses on cultivating self-compassion and mindfulness. While typically delivered as a face-to-face program, the proposed trial will investigate efficacy of the program when provided via videoconferencing. DISCUSSION Videoconference Mindful Self-Compassion training has the potential to improve the mental health of Australian LGBTQIA+ young adults and provide a possible cost-effective, scalable intervention for this population. The proposed trial will be the first to determine its efficacy for LGBTQIA+ young adults and will provide the first data on the delivery of the program via videoconferencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Finlay-Jones
- Telethon Kids Institute, PO Box 855, Perth 6872, Australia; School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Penelope Strauss
- Telethon Kids Institute, PO Box 855, Perth 6872, Australia; School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Yael Perry
- Telethon Kids Institute, PO Box 855, Perth 6872, Australia.
| | - Zoe Waters
- Telethon Kids Institute, PO Box 855, Perth 6872, Australia; School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Dylan Gilbey
- Telethon Kids Institute, PO Box 855, Perth 6872, Australia; School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Meg-An Windred
- Minus18, 81 Rupert St, Collingwood, VIC 3066, Australia.
| | - Adrian Murdoch
- Minus18, 81 Rupert St, Collingwood, VIC 3066, Australia.
| | - Charlotte Pugh
- Telethon Kids Institute, PO Box 855, Perth 6872, Australia.
| | - Jeneva L Ohan
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Ashleigh Lin
- Telethon Kids Institute, PO Box 855, Perth 6872, Australia; School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
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