Behavioral Intervention to Reduce Psychological Distress Symptoms Among Black Gender Minority Women Experiencing Chronic Stigma

The proposed research builds on our previous work with Black gender minority (GM) women and addresses research gaps. The researchers propose to develop and examine the feasibility of an intervention to improve psychological distress symptom management related to chronic stigma exposure among Black GM women. A hybrid delivery model is proposed where a) weekly group sessions will be co-led by a community member with expertise in working with transgender women and a public health nurse, b) supplemental educational content will be available for individual consumption via an online portal or application (and tracked via participant click counts), and c) additional social resources will be available through the online portal or app. Researchers will use an adaptive intervention approach with 7 module-based sessions selected on the basis of post-session assessments of acceptability and satisfaction. The investigators will use standard qualitative and mixed-method approaches (focus groups, key informant interviews with the community advisory board, and a quantitative survey) and iterative design to develop/adapt, refine, and evaluate a culturally informed intervention for transgender women experiencing chronic stigma and psychological distress.

Participants will be recruited via convenience sampling using multiple strategies including passively distributing flyers to LGBTQ+ organizations and clinics, universities, and community colleges; LGBTQ+ and transgender and gender diverse (TGD) group social media platforms; peer referral, and word of mouth; and actively through collaborations with the Casa Ruby case management team and providers at Emory Healthcare and Grady Health Gender Center.

Investigators will use standard qualitative and mixed-method approaches (focus groups, key informant interviews with the community advisory board, and a quantitative survey) and iterative design to develop/adopt, refine, and evaluate a culturally informed intervention for transgender women experiencing chronic stigma and psychological distress. The research team will conduct 4 focus groups of 5 people to address Aim 1. Focus group sessions will last no longer than 2 hours and will be virtual via Zoom.

The research team will conduct a proof-of-concept study to establish the feasibility, including recruitment, retention, and outcome measurement of the developed intervention. Researchers will collect quantitative assessment data on internet-accessible devices via self-administered surveys collected at the time point (T)1; baseline enrollment, T2; Mid-intervention (3-6 weeks from baseline assessment), T3. immediately post-intervention (within 2 weeks of study completion), and T4. 3-months post-intervention.

The phase 2 intervention trial includes transgender women of any race or ethnicity and will be delivered hybrid with 3 in-person sessions (in Atlanta, GA) and 4 online sessions via Zoom.