Effect of a Brief Social Contact Video on Transphobia and Depression-Related Stigma Among Adolescents

Abstract

IMPORTANCETransphobia and stigma remain barriers to seeking mental health care for genderdiverse adolescents. OBJECTIVE To examine the utility of brief social contact-based video interventions of transgender protagonists with depression to reduce transphobia and depression-related stigma and increase treatment-seeking intentions among adolescents in the general population. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS During August 2021, a total of 1437 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 video-based conditions in a 2:2:1:1 ratio: (1) transgender adolescent girls, (2) transgender adolescent boys, (3) cisgender adolescent girls, or (4) cisgender adolescent boys. INTERVENTIONS In each of the approximately 110-second videos, an empowered presenter shared their personal story about coping with depression and reaching out for help. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was the score on the Attitudes Toward Transgender Men and Women (ATTMW) scale. Secondary outcomes were (1) a "gender thermometer" rating for warmth in transgender perception, (2) the Depression Stigma Scale (DSS) score, and (3) the General Health-Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ) score. RESULTS Of the 1437 randomized participants, 1098 (76%) completed the postintervention assessment and passed all the validity tests (mean [SD] age, 16.9 [1.2] years; 481 [44%] male; 640 [58%] White). A significant change in attitudes toward transgender youth was found within the intervention group only (mean [SD] ATTMW scores: intervention group, 34.6 [23.1] at baseline to 32.8 [24.2] after intervention; P < .001; control group, 33.5 [23.4] at baseline to 32.4 [24.1] after intervention; P = .01). The mean (SD) total DSS scores decreased significantly across study groups

Collaborating with transgender youth to educate healthcare trainees and professionals: randomized controlled trial of a didactic enhanced by brief videos

“…In prior work we had proven the efficacy of brief videos (< 110 s) to reduce depression-related stigma and increase treatment-seeking intentions among white [ 25 ], Black [ 26 ], and transgender [ 27 ] protagonists of a similar age. The active component common across the three studies was an adolescent sharing their personal narrative in an emotionally legitimate manner that highlighted improvements related to acceptance (of racial or gender diversity) and/or treatment (for depression and attendant suicidal ideation).…”

A Multipronged, Evidence-Based Approach to Improving Mental Health Among Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth

“…Amsalem et al aimed to address this second determinant of mental health by conducting an elegant randomized clinical trial examining the efficacy of a brief video intervention on reducing transphobia and depression-related stigma and increasing help-seeking intentions among a sample of adolescents recruited online. The 110-second-long videos featured an empowered presenter speaking about their experience seeking out mental health supports.…”

“…Taken together, the studies by Tordoff et al and Amsalem et al provide important evidence for interventions that improve TGD youth mental health by providing gender-affirming medical care and reducing transphobia, respectively. It is only through a multipronged approach that mental health disparities among TGD youth may be properly addressed.…”

Someone Like Me—The Importance of Visible Sexual and Gender Minority Health Care Professionals

“…What good would disclosing my sexual orientation do? Considering that a previous study documented that social contact with SGM individuals was associated with improved attitudes and a reduction in homophobia and transphobia, 1 being open and visible to coworkers, trainees, and patients is one way to aid in the fight for acceptance. Nonetheless, systematic barriers in medicine make the visibility journey exhausting for me and my SGM colleagues.…”

“…Despite the introduction of the American Association of Medical Colleges’ guidelines and attempts by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, SGM health topics are not routinely taught in medical school . Those who do teach it have only didactic information, which is insufficient to improve medical students’ perspectives toward SGM individuals . A curriculum that introduces real people’s experiences should be included in the current learning system to prevent SGM populations from facing continuous health disparities and avoiding health care visits due to unfavorable experiences and discrimination by health care professoinals …”