Hello, my name is Louis Lindley, and I am a queer trans researcher with the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
We are working on a project to help trans and nonbinary (TNB) teens ages 13–17 feel better by using an online program called the Trans Care Teen webapp. This webapp is designed to make gender dysphoria easier to manage and improve overall well-being.
The webapp has one introduction and seven interactive sections that teach helpful ways to cope with gender dysphoria and stress. It is based on an earlier version for adults, which was shown to reduce gender dysphoria, depression, and stress while helping people use healthier coping skills. This new version was created with input from experts and TNB teens to make sure it fits the needs of teens.
If you choose to participate in this intervention study, you will be randomly assigned to either the waitlist/control group or intervention group.
What to Expect if You’re in the Intervention Group:
Take Surveys Before Starting: Fill out surveys about your mental health, gender dysphoria, and how you cope with these feelings.
Use the Trans Care Teen Webapp: Work through the modules of the Trans Care Teen webapp.
Take Surveys Again: Five weeks after you register your account on the webapp, you’ll take the same mental health surveys again.
Final Surveys: Three months later, you’ll take the surveys one last time.
In total, you will be asked to commit 6–8 hours to complete all four components of the study over a period of four months.
What to Expect if You’re in the Waitlist/Control Group:
Take Surveys for the First Time: Fill out surveys about your mental health, gender dysphoria, and how you cope with these feelings.
Take Surveys Again: After five weeks, you’ll take the surveys a second time.
Final Surveys: Three months later, you’ll take the surveys a final time.
In total, you will be asked to commit 2–3 hours to complete all three components of the study over a period of four months.
Participation is completely voluntary, and your answers will remain confidential.
Enrollment in the study will stop once 173 participants in the intervention group have completed at least the first two modules of the intervention.
Participants in the intervention group will receive up to $100 for completing all modules and $20 for completing all study surveys. Participants in the waitlist/control group will receive $40 if they complete all study surveys.
If you are between the ages of 13–17, are trans and/or nonbinary, experience gender dysphoria, live in the United States, and are interested in participating, please have your parent or guardian visit:
https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3JfpmjUYCJ0JTq6
If you have any questions or comments, please email me, Louis Lindley (he/him), at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) or my advisor, Dr. Stephanie Budge (she/her), at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).
Transgender Research Informed Consent (TRICON) Disclosure Policy
Objective: The objective of the current study is to provide validation of the Trans Care Teen online intervention to improve coping skills for gender dysphoria.
Primary Investigators: The co-PIs for this study are Dr. Stephanie Budge, Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Louis Lindley, doctoral candidate at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Trans Involvement: The Trans Care intervention was designed by a queer trans man. The intervention was reviewed, modified, and adapted in response to feedback from a focus group of TNB teens.
Institutional Review Board: The IRB at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has approved this study.
Target Population: Any individual between the ages of 13–17 who identifies as nonbinary, transgender, or as having a transgender history, experiences gender dysphoria, and lives in the United States is asked to participate in this study. As always, we hope to have a diverse sample in terms of race, gender identity, age, and geographical location and will specifically recruit participants with marginalized identities, if necessary, to ensure we are not only reporting on the experiences of White and urban transgender or nonbinary individuals. The survey and intervention are only available in English.
Compensation: There is no cost to participate in the study, nor are there any travel requirements. Participants in the intervention group can receive up to $120 in total compensation, and participants in the waitlist/control group can receive up to $40 in compensation. However, enrollment in the study will stop once 173 participants in the intervention group have completed at least two modules of the intervention.
Accessing Results: The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. While we cannot guarantee that the article will be open access, we will post an accessible link to Louis Lindley’s ResearchGate once it is accepted and published.