A Brief Self-compassion Intervention for Body Image, Minority Stress, and Sexual Self-efficacy in Hong Kong Gay Men

This pilot study aims to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a brief self-compassion writing intervention on body image, minority stress, and sexual self-efficacy among gay men in Hong Kong.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Gay Men
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Brief self-compassion intervention

Detailed Description

Gay men experience greater body dissatisfaction, a stronger drive for muscularity, and heightened body image concerns compared to their heterosexual counterparts. These issues contribute to minority stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and engagement in risky sexual behaviors. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, we aim to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a brief self-compassion writing intervention on body image, minority stress, and sexual self-efficacy among gay men in Hong Kong.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Haixia Ma, PhD; Phone Number: 2990 (852)39702990; Email: phxma@hkmu.edu.hk

Study Locations

• Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong, Hong Kong
    • Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged 18 years or above
• self-identified as a gay man
• sufficient comprehension of Cantonese
• currently living in Hong Kong
• able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• currently experiencing psychosis
• having an intellectual disability
• experiencing current suicidal ideation
• not currently receiving or engaging in regular mental health services in the last 3 months
• participation in a similar study or receiving similar services in the past 12 months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Waiting-list control group
Experimental: Self-compassion interventional group; Interventional group will include 2.5 hour training and 3 weeks self-compassion writing exercise	Behavioral: Brief self-compassion intervention; Participants will be randomly allocated to the self-compassion group and the waiting list control group. The interveintion group will receive a 2.5 self-compassion training, and 3 week self-compassion writing exercise.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
self-compassion	Self-compassion will be measured using the 12-item short version of the self-compassion scale (SCS). Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Almost Never) to 5 (Almost Always). The total score ranged from 12 to 60, with higher score indicating higher level of self-compassion.	From enrollment to the end of intervention at 1 month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sexuality-based stigma	Sexuality-based stigma will be measured by the 10-item Chinese men sex with men (MSM) Stigma Scale. Items are rated on a four-point Likert scale from 1 (never) to 4 (many times). The total score ranges from 10 to 40, with higher score indicating higher level of sexuality-based stigma.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 1 month
Internalized stigma	Internalized stigma will be measured with the 5-item revised internalized homophobia scale (IHP-R). Items are measured on a five-point Likert scale between 1 (Strongly Disagree) and 5 (Strongly Agree). The total score ranges from 5 to 25, with higher scores indicate greater internalized stigma.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 1 month
anxiety	Anxiety symptoms will be measured using the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). The total score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher total scores indicating higher levels of anxiety symptoms	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 1 month
self-esteem	The 10-item Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) will be used to measured self-esteem. Items will be rated on a 4-point Liker scale (1 = Strongly agree, 4 = Strongly disagree). The total score ranges from 10 to 40, with higher score indicating higher level of self-esteem.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 1 month
body objectification	Self-objectification will be measured using the Chinese version of the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS) - body-surveillance subscale. It consists of eight items rated on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree). The total score ranges from 7 to 56, with a higher score indicating a higher level of body surveillance.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 1 month
sexual self-efficacy	The 14-item Condom Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) will be used to measurement participants' sexual self-efficacy. Items will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (very unsure) to 5 (very sure). The total score ranging from 14 to 70, with higher scores indicated a higher level of condom use efficacy.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 1 month
Body shame	Body shame will be measured using the Chinese version of the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS) - body shame subscale (McKinley & Hyde, 1996). It consists of six items rated on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree), with a higher score indicating a higher level of body shame.	From enrollment to the end of intervention at 1 month
Depression	Depression will be measured using the Chinese version of the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). The total score ranges from 0 to 27, with higher total scores indicating higher levels of depressive symptoms.	From enrollment to the end of intervention at 1 month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): April 27, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 28, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 28, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 18, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 18, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): January 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 29, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: mental health; self-compassion; body image; gay men
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Personal Satisfaction; Psychological Well-Being
• Other Study ID Numbers: HE-NHS2025/05; M2025/06 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Hong Kong Metropolitan University)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No