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Development and Testing of an Identity Measure for Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons

Award Number: R21MH130271
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/15/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/14/2025

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Development and Testing of an Identity Measure for Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons - Abstract Evidence demonstrates that transgender and gender diverse (TGD) persons are at dramatically elevated risk for HIV and a number of other detrimental health outcomes largely as a result of pervasive exposure to gender- based stigma and discrimination. Such prejudicial treatment is internalized by TGD persons as “identity non- verification,” a well-established behavioral mechanism in Identity Theory which has yet to be broadly adopted by researchers studying TGD populations. This study would develop the first multidimensional measure of TGD persons' gender identities using Identity Theory's established metrics (e.g., identity standards, reflected appraisals, salience / prominence / commitment ratings) and mechanisms (e.g., identity non-verification, identity corrective responses). The study would occur in two stages, beginning with a Development Stage in which in-depth interviews are carried out with a purposively sampled group of TGD persons evenly split by age, HIV status, and gender identity (N = 24 participants each) over the course of six months followed by a period of six weeks to analyze the interview data and formulate initial dimensions of the gender identity measure. Six weeks of cognitive debriefing interviews (n = 6) would then confirm the face validity of the new measure and allow for fine-tuning of items. This would conclude the Development Stage and would commence the Testing Stage (N = 150), in which the reliability and validity of the new measure could be established, and a test of how identity non-verification is associated with critical health outcomes can be carried out. A deeper and more granular understanding of how TGD persons see themselves, how they believe other people see them, and how differences between these two constructs are associated with HIV-related outcomes and risks (including exposure to HIV and uptake/adherence to ART or PEP/PrEP) could generate new hypotheses, better research questions, and new methods of intervening in one of the populations most affected by HIV in the US.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2023	FRIENDS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC	1040 PARK AVE STE 103	BALTIMORE	MD	21201	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	9/17/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $193,686 )
2023	2023	FRIENDS RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC	1040 PARK AVE	BALTIMORE	MD	21201	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	2	8/22/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$193,686
2023	2022	FRIENDS RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC	1040 PARK AVE	BALTIMORE	MD	21201	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	12/28/2022	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $193,686

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $178,781 )
2022	2022	FRIENDS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC	1040 PARK AVE STE 103	BALTIMORE	MD	21201	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	9/6/2022	NEW	$178,781
														Subtotal = $178,781

Grand Total All Awards = $372,467

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Development and Testing of an Identity Measure for Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons

Award Number: R21MH130271

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/15/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/14/2025

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