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Self-compassion training for transgender and gender-diverse individuals experiencing psychological distress : A non-concurrent multiple-baseline single-case study

Nordlund, Lisa LU ; Lundberg, Tove LU orcid ; Malmquist, Anna and Wurm, Matilda (2026) In Acta Psychologica 270.
Abstract
In recent years, we have witnessed a backlash concerning societal attitudes towards transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals in liberal democracies. In accordance with the gender minority stress model, these stressors have detrimental effects on TGD individuals' well-being, leading to higher rates of depression and anxiety. This multiple-baseline single-case study aimed to develop and test the efficacy of a brief, internet-delivered, self-compassion training module for TGD individuals suffering from psychological distress. A non-concurrent multiple baseline design was applied, where six TGD individuals living in Sweden were randomly assigned to different baseline lengths. Participants completed weekly self-ratings about their... (More)
In recent years, we have witnessed a backlash concerning societal attitudes towards transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals in liberal democracies. In accordance with the gender minority stress model, these stressors have detrimental effects on TGD individuals' well-being, leading to higher rates of depression and anxiety. This multiple-baseline single-case study aimed to develop and test the efficacy of a brief, internet-delivered, self-compassion training module for TGD individuals suffering from psychological distress. A non-concurrent multiple baseline design was applied, where six TGD individuals living in Sweden were randomly assigned to different baseline lengths. Participants completed weekly self-ratings about their self-compassion and psychological distress (i.e., depressive feelings and anxiety). Visual inspection and statistical nonoverlap (NAP) analysis showed that four out of six participants improved on at least two of the three measures (self-compassion, depressive feelings, anxiety). Due to a short follow-up, it is unclear to what extent the participants were able to retain the improvements unassisted. Nevertheless, results suggest that a self-compassion module may be a useful addition to TGD-affirmative interventions. Potential benefits of prolonging the program and extending follow-up are discussed. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
self-compassion, transgender studies, minority stress
in
Acta Psychologica
volume
270
article number
107942
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:42837965
ISSN
1873-6297
DOI
10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107942
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1c1fd834-6406-4a02-9cc2-270e251b8d67
alternative location
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0001691826017439
date added to LUP
2026-10-07 09:13:10
date last changed
2026-10-08 03:00:02
@article{1c1fd834-6406-4a02-9cc2-270e251b8d67,
  abstract     = {{In recent years, we have witnessed a backlash concerning societal attitudes towards transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals in liberal democracies. In accordance with the gender minority stress model, these stressors have detrimental effects on TGD individuals' well-being, leading to higher rates of depression and anxiety. This multiple-baseline single-case study aimed to develop and test the efficacy of a brief, internet-delivered, self-compassion training module for TGD individuals suffering from psychological distress. A non-concurrent multiple baseline design was applied, where six TGD individuals living in Sweden were randomly assigned to different baseline lengths. Participants completed weekly self-ratings about their self-compassion and psychological distress (i.e., depressive feelings and anxiety). Visual inspection and statistical nonoverlap (NAP) analysis showed that four out of six participants improved on at least two of the three measures (self-compassion, depressive feelings, anxiety). Due to a short follow-up, it is unclear to what extent the participants were able to retain the improvements unassisted. Nevertheless, results suggest that a self-compassion module may be a useful addition to TGD-affirmative interventions. Potential benefits of prolonging the program and extending follow-up are discussed.}},
  author       = {{Nordlund, Lisa and Lundberg, Tove and Malmquist, Anna and Wurm, Matilda}},
  issn         = {{1873-6297}},
  keywords     = {{self-compassion; transgender studies; minority stress}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Acta Psychologica}},
  title        = {{Self-compassion training for transgender and gender-diverse individuals experiencing psychological distress : A non-concurrent multiple-baseline single-case study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107942}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107942}},
  volume       = {{270}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}