Transfeminine Survivors' and Facilitators' Perspectives on Intimate Partner Violence Content in a Peer-Led HIV-IPV...

Transfeminine individuals are disproportionately impacted by intimate partner violence (IPV), yet the dominant discourse surrounding IPV is often cisheteronormative and does not center their experiences. There remains limited research on transfeminine individuals' experiences of IPV and their specific needs for intervention. Using inductive thematic analysis, this qualitative study explored participant and facilitator experiences in STARS (Supporting Trans Affirmation, Relationships, and Sex), a 4-session, peer-delivered, empowerment-based program tailored for transfeminine adults who have experienced IPV. Our primary aims were to assess the acceptability, relevance, and impact of the intervention's IPV content and to identify participants' ongoing needs related to IPV prevention and support. Seventeen STARS participants and four facilitators completed semi-structured interviews as part of a randomized controlled feasibility trial. Thematic analysis yielded four overarching findings: (1) Peer-led discussions of shared experiences provide a sense of community, mutual understanding, trust, and kinship; (2) Self-empowerment content is instrumental in reducing internalized stigma; (3) IPV psychoeducation content needs to broadly conceptualize IPV and address the unique experiences of abuse in trans4trans (T4T), queer, and consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships; and (4) Tailored safety planning techniques, including resource sharing, navigation, and ongoing trauma-sensitive support, are particularly suited to meet a range of IPV-related needs. Findings of high impact and engagement illustrate the promise of a peer-led, empowerment-based approach to IPV reduction among transgender women. Our findings have implications for future trans-tailored IPV research, such as revealing the need to include T4T, queer, and CNM perspectives, prioritize community-engaged intervention development, and adapt future interventions to reflect an expanded and inclusive theory of IPV.Trial registration: The randomized controlled feasibility trial of STARS was pre-registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06001307).