Browsing by Author "Pachankis JE"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Acceptability of LGBTQ-Affirmative Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy for Youth: Results from a Pilot Study
    (2023-04-01) Seager van Dyk I; Layland EK; Soulliard ZA; Pachankis JE
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Coming out under fire: The role of minority stress and emotion regulation in sexual orientation disclosure
    (Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2022-05-02) Seager van Dyk I; Aldao A; Pachankis JE
    Minority stress is hypothesized to interfere with sexual orientation disclosure and sexual minority wellbeing. In this study, we investigated whether minority stress is causally linked to reduced disclosure in sexual minorities, and whether emotion regulation, a potentially adaptive form of stigma coping, can intervene to promote disclosure even following exposure to minority stress. Sexual minority adults in the US (N = 168) were recruited online and randomized to a 2 x 2 between-subjects experimental design, where they: 1) received either emotion regulation instructions that asked them to either distance themselves from an emotionally evocative film clip or immerse themselves in the clip, and then 2) viewed either an affirming or a minority stress film clip. Following the film clip, participants completed a written reflection task in which they reflected on the film clip they viewed, which allowed research assistants to subsequently code for participants’ spontaneous disclosures of sexual orientation. Participants who viewed the minority stress clip were significantly less likely to spontaneously disclose their sexual orientation in the written task compared to those who viewed the affirming film clip, OR = 3.21, 95% CI [1.14, 9.05], p = .03. Although the emotion regulation manipulation was successful, there was no effect on sexual orientation disclosure. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a causal link between minority stress and disclosure in sexual minorities, and thus highlights an important mechanism underlying minority stress’s effects on sexual minority wellbeing. Results demonstrate the importance of interventions that affirm marginalized identities and promote safe sexual orientation disclosure. Future research is needed to determine the circumstances under which effective emotion regulation can buffer against the negative emotional effects of minority stress to promote healthy approach behaviors like disclosure in safe contexts.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Prepare Romania: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of an intervention to promote pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence and persistence among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men
    (BMC, part of Springer Nature, 2024-07-10) Lelutiu-Weinberger C; Filimon ML; Zavodszky AM; Lixandru M; Hanu L; Fierbinteanu C; Patrascu R; Streinu-Cercel A; Luculescu S; Bora M; Filipescu I; Jianu C; Heightow-Weidman LB; Rochelle A; Yi B; Buckner N; Golub SA; van Dyk IS; Burger J; Li F; Pachankis JE
    BACKGROUND: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) represent a high-risk group for HIV transmission in Romania, yet they possess few resources for prevention. Despite having no formal access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) through the health system, GBMSM in Romania demonstrate a high need for and interest in this medication. In anticipation of a national rollout of PrEP, this study tests the efficacy of a novel strategy, Prepare Romania, that combines two evidence-based PrEP promotion interventions for GBMSM living in Romania. METHODS: This study uses a randomized controlled trial design to examine whether GBMSM living in Romania receiving Prepare Romania, a culturally adapted counseling and mobile health intervention (expected n = 60), demonstrate greater PrEP adherence and persistence than those assigned to a PrEP education control arm (expected n = 60). Participants from two main cities in Romania are prescribed PrEP and followed-up at 3 and 6 months post-randomization. PrEP adherence data are obtained through weekly self-report surveys and dried blood spot testing at follow-up visits. Potential mediators (e.g., PrEP use motivation) of intervention efficacy are also assessed. Furthermore, Prepare Romania's implementation (e.g., proportion of enrolled participants attending medical visits, intervention experience) will be examined through interviews with participants, study implementers, and healthcare officials. DISCUSSION: The knowledge gained from this study will be utilized for further refinement and scale-up of Prepare Romania for a future multi-city effectiveness trial. By studying the efficacy of tools to support PrEP adherence and persistence, this research has the potential to lay the groundwork for PrEP rollout in Romania and similar contexts. Trial registration This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05323123 , on March 25, 2022.