Results Summary

What was the research about?

Sexual and gender minority, or SGM, men include those who identify as gay, bisexual, trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, or intersex. SGM men experience higher rates of sexual abuse than other men. These experiences can lead to depression; substance use; suicide; or posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

In this study, the research team compared two online programs for SGM men who have been sexually abused and have depression:

  • Motivational interviewing (MI). SGM men received six weekly, 90-minute online video sessions. During these sessions, two trained peers talked about types of stress in daily life, trauma and behavior change, personal values and strengths, building self-confidence, and planning for positive life changes. Peers supported behavior change and using mental health treatment.
  • MI plus affirmative care. Along with the MI program, during sessions with peers, SGM men received information about myths and facts regarding sexual abuse of boys and men, sexual abuse of SGM individuals, and men seeking mental health treatment. Peers talked about how to change unhelpful patterns of thinking.

What were the results?

Right after the programs ended and two and four months later, the two programs didn’t differ in improving:

  • Depressive symptoms
  • Use of mental health treatment
  • PTSD symptoms
  • Quality of life
  • Suicidal thoughts

These health outcomes improved for patients in both programs.

Among patients with severe depression, patients who received MI plus affirmative care had fewer depression symptoms than patients who received MI.

Who was in the study?

The study included 356 SGM men in the United States and Canada who had been sexually abused. Of these, 85 percent were White, 15 percent were Hispanic, and 9 percent were Black. Also, 66 percent identified as gay; 22 percent as bisexual; 2 percent as men who have sex with men; and 11 percent as pansexual, asexual, or another sexual attraction. The average age was 35; 83 percent identified as cisgender and 17 percent identified on the transmasculine spectrum.

What did the research team do?

The research team recruited SGM men online through social media websites. The team assigned men by chance to one of the two programs. Men completed surveys about health outcomes at the start of the study, after the programs ended, and two and four months later.

SGM men who have been sexually abused and advocacy groups helped design the study.

What were the limits of the study?

The SGM men who volunteered to take part in the study may have been more comfortable sharing their sexual abuse or assault experiences. Results may differ for men who aren’t as comfortable sharing these experiences.

Future research could look at the effect MI programs have on other people who have experienced abuse.

How can people use the results?

Clinics can use these results when considering ways to help SGM men who have been sexually abused.

Final Research Report

This project's final research report is expected to be available by May 2024.

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Periscope Interviews with PCORI at AcademyHealth's 2019 Annual Research Meeting

Nathan Lachine, a member of MaleSurvivor and its webmaster, shares his thoughts about being a patient partner in this study. (Watch)

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Peer-Review Summary

The Peer-Review Summary for this project will be posted here soon.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures

Project Information

Joan M. Cook, PhD
Yale University
$1,390,341
Peer Online Motivational Interviewing for Sexual and Gender Minority Male Survivors

Key Dates

November 2018
March 2023
2018
2023

Study Registration Information

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Last updated: October 16, 2023