Feasibility and acceptability of a mindful self-compassion intervention for transgender and gender-diverse...

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals face distinct gender minority stress and body image concerns, leading to emotional and cognitive responses that can contribute to negative mental health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a mindful self-compassion (MSC) intervention among TGD individuals in Hong Kong.

A single-group, six-session MSC intervention was delivered weekly among 17 participants from December 2024 to January 2025, including eight transgender men, six transgender women, and three gender-fluid individuals. The median age was 24 years (IQR: 21-30). Validated measures of internalized stigma, self-esteem, body surveillance, body shame, body appreciation, anxiety disorders, and depression symptoms were administered at pre-and post-intervention. Additionally, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted to understand participants' experiences and their satisfaction with the intervention.

The Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated there were significant improvements in self-esteem (p = 0.01), body appreciation (p = 0.01), and self-compassion (p = 0.05) immediately after the intervention. Qualitative findings indicated overall satisfaction with the intervention.

The six-session MSC intervention demonstrated preliminary effectiveness in enhancing self-compassion, internalized stigma, and body image among TGD individuals. Further research with a larger sample size and a longer follow-up period is warranted.