Thank you for your interest in the Connect Study. Recruitment is now closed and we are not enrolling additional members in to group. Information listed on this website is informational only. Thank you for visiting!

​Researchers from the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University were recruiting male survivors for a study to examine the effects of a 6-session online peer-led group on depression, anxiety, and other mental health symptoms.

Who can join this study?

What will I be asked to do?
You can participate in this study if you are:
  • 18 years of age or older
  • English-speaking
  • Report a history of sexual abuse, sexual assault, or unwanted sexual experience at some point in your lifetime
  • Identify as male
  • Identify as at least one of the following: gay, bisexual, transgender, attracted to men, or have sex with men. 
  • Experiencing emotional distress
  • Haven’t received any psychotherapy or formal mental health counseling in past 60 days
  • Live in the United States or Canada
Recruitment is now closed. Thank you for your interest.

Will I be paid for my time?

To thank you for your time, you will receive $20 for each wave of questionnaires that you participate in (up to $80), after you are enrolled in the study. In addition, you may be asked to participate in a telephone interview after you complete the 6-week group. If you agree to participate in this post-intervention telephone interview, you will be compensated with an additional $30.

​Please note, we are unable to provide compensation for completing the screening questionnaires (questions to determine if you are eligible to participate in the study) or pre-study telephone interview.
  1. You will be asked to complete a screening questionnaire online and telephone interview with one of our research team members
  2. Fill out questionnaires online before the group starts
  3. Participate in a 6-week online peer-led group (each group is 1.5 hours, one time per week)
  4. Complete additional questionnaires immediately following the group, two months after the group has ended, and four months after the group has ended. 

Each of the six group sessions build on one another and will be scheduled around your availability. You must be willing to attend all six group sessions in order participate.

Why should I join this study?

Benefits of participation include receiving access to peer-based online support and possible improvement in mood and overall psychological well-being.

How do I complete the screening questionnaires and interview?

Thank you for your interest in the Connect Study. Recruitment is now closed. 

Have additional questions?

Head over to our FAQ page for additional information regarding participation. You can access the FAQ page here.
Need assistance? Please contact us:
connectstudy@yale.edu