An Internet-Based Intervention to Increase the Ability of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People to Cope With Adverse Events: Single-Group Feasibility Study

Andreea Bogdana Isbășoiu; Florin Alin Sava; Torill M B Larsen; Norman Anderssen; Tudor-Stefan Rotaru; Andrei Rusu; Nastasia Sălăgean; Bogdan Tudor Tulbure

doi:10.2196/56198

An Internet-Based Intervention to Increase the Ability of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People to Cope With Adverse Events: Single-Group Feasibility Study

JMIR Form Res. 2024 May 15:8:e56198. doi: 10.2196/56198.

Authors

Andreea Bogdana Isbășoiu^{1

2}, Florin Alin Sava¹, Torill M B Larsen³, Norman Anderssen⁴, Tudor-Stefan Rotaru⁵, Andrei Rusu¹, Nastasia Sălăgean¹, Bogdan Tudor Tulbure¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, West University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania.
² Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania.
³ Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
⁴ Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
⁵ Department of Bioethics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Gr. T. Popa" Iași, Iasi, Romania.

PMID: 38749024
PMCID: PMC11137425
DOI: 10.2196/56198

Abstract

Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people are at higher risk of mental health problems due to widespread hetero- and cisnormativity, including negative public attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to combating social exclusion at the societal level, strengthening the coping abilities of young LGBTQ+ people is an important goal.

Objective: In this transdiagnostic feasibility study, we tested a 6-week internet intervention program designed to increase the ability of nonclinical LGBTQ+ participants to cope with adverse events in their daily lives. The program was based on acceptance and commitment therapy principles.

Methods: The program consists of 6 web-based modules and low-intensity assistance for homework provided by a single care provider asynchronously. The design was a single-group assignment of 15 self-identified LGB community members who agreed to participate in an open trial with a single group (pre- and postintervention design).

Results: Before starting the program, participants found the intervention credible and expressed high satisfaction at the end of the intervention. Treatment adherence, operationalized by the percentage of completed homework assignments (32/36, 88%) was also high. When we compared participants' pre- and postintervention scores, we found a significant decrease in clinical symptoms of depression (Cohen d=0.44, 90% CI 0.09-0.80), social phobia (d=0.39, 90% CI 0.07-0.72), and posttraumatic stress disorder (d=0.30, 90% CI 0.04-0.55). There was also a significant improvement in the level of self-acceptance and behavioral effectiveness (d=0.64, 90% CI 0.28-0.99) and a significant decrease in the tendency to avoid negative internal experiences (d=0.38, 90% CI 0.09-0.66). The level of general anxiety disorder (P=.11; d=0.29, 90% CI -0.10 to 0.68) and alcohol consumption (P=.35; d=-0.06, 90% CI -0.31 to 0.19) were the only 2 outcomes for which the results were not statistically significant.

Conclusions: The proposed web-based acceptance and commitment therapy program, designed to help LGBTQ+ participants better manage emotional difficulties and become more resilient, represents a promising therapeutic tool. The program could be further tested with more participants to ensure its efficacy and effectiveness.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05514964; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05514964.

Keywords: LGBTQ+; PTSD; acceptance and commitment therapy; anxiety; depression; online interventions; prevention; transdiagnostic.

©Andreea Bogdana Isbășoiu, Florin Alin Sava, Torill M B Larsen, Norman Anderssen, Tudor-Stefan Rotaru, Andrei Rusu, Nastasia Sălăgean, Bogdan Tudor Tulbure. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 15.05.2024.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT05514964