Photo-experiencing and Reflective Listening (PEARL) to Promote Healing Engagement for Survivors of Violence

NCT07277816 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 2729265K01NR021275-02
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a photo-elicitation intervention called PEARL (Photo-experiencing and Reflective Listening) can promote healing engagement in survivors of interpersonal violence. It will also learn about the feasibility and acceptability of PEARL. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does PEARL reduce barriers to help-seeking for trauma? Does PEARL improve trauma coping self-efficacy? Does PEARL change post-trauma cognitions and readiness for recovery? Is PEARL feasible and acceptable to survivors of interpersonal violence? Researchers will compare people who receive PEARL immediately to people on a waitlist (who receive PEARL three months later) to see if PEARL improves healing engagement and help-seeking behaviors. Participants will:

• Complete baseline surveys about their trauma history, mental health, healing, and help-seeking behaviors
• Be randomly assigned to receive PEARL immediately or after a 3-month wait
• Receive a photography-focusing prompt and create photos over two weeks (those in the immediate group or after the waiting period)
• Participate in a reflective listening interview about their photos
• Complete follow-up surveys immediately after the intervention and one month later
• Participate in a one-month follow-up interview about their experience

Conditions

Violence and Victimization

Keywords

healing; recovery; violence; trauma

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Post-trauma Cognitions Inventory (PTCI)

  The PTCI is a self-report measure used to assess posttraumatic cognitions. It is composed of three subscales: Negative Cognitions about the Self, Negative Cognitions about the World, and Self-Blame. Higher scores indicate more negative trauma-related cognitions. The minimum score one can receive is 33 and the maximum score is 231.

  Baseline, immediately post-intervention (approximately 2-4 weeks after baseline), and 1-month follow-up (approximately 6-8 weeks after baseline)

• Trauma Coping Self-efficacy Scale

  The Trauma Coping Self-efficacy Scale is a 7-item measure that covers trauma-related coping self-efficacy including: dealing with reminders of the event, dealing with emotions associated with the event, employing active coping strategies, and resuming normal functioning. Higher scores indicate greater confidence in ability to cope with trauma. The minimum score one can receive is 0 and the maximum score is 63.

  Baseline, immediately post-intervention (approximately 2-4 weeks after baseline), and 1-month follow-up (approximately 6-8 weeks after baseline)

• Healing after Gender-based Violence Scale

  This 18-item scale measures holistic healing after trauma. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 ('Not at all') to 5 ('To a great extent'). Respondents are asked to evaluate each statement in reference to their perceived lowest point and their current feelings. This measure captures holistic healing outcomes beyond symptom reduction. Higher scores indicate greater levels of healing.

  Baseline, immediately post-intervention (approximately 2-4 weeks after baseline), and 1-month follow-up (approximately 6-8 weeks after baseline)

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)

  Baseline and 1-month follow-up (approximately 6-8 weeks after baseline)

• Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8)

  Baseline and 1-month follow-up (approximately 6-8 weeks after baseline)

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)

  Baseline and 1-month follow-up (approximately 6-8 weeks after baseline)

• Trauma Recovery Actions Checklist (TRAC)

  Baseline and 1-month follow-up (approximately 6-8 weeks after baseline)

Study Arms (2)

Immediate Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants randomized to this arm receive the PEARL intervention within two weeks of enrollment. They are given a photography-focusing prompt and two weeks to create photographs reflecting their healing journey. After two weeks, they participate in a reflective listening interview about their photographs. Participants complete surveys at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at one-month follow-up, as well as a qualitative interview at one-month follow-up.

Behavioral: PEARL (Photo-experiencing and Reflective Listening)

Waitlist Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants randomized to this arm receive a resource referral list (standard of care) and wait three months before receiving the PEARL intervention. They complete baseline surveys at enrollment and again at three months (pre-intervention baseline). After the three-month waiting period, they receive the same PEARL intervention as the immediate group: a photography-focusing prompt, two weeks to create photographs, and a reflective listening interview. They complete post-intervention and one-month follow-up assessments following their intervention.

Behavioral: PEARL (Photo-experiencing and Reflective Listening)

Interventions

PEARL (Photo-experiencing and Reflective Listening) BEHAVIORAL

PEARL is a two-component behavioral intervention designed to promote healing engagement among survivors of interpersonal violence. Participants receive a photography-focusing prompt and are given two weeks to create photographs that reflect their healing journey and experiences. After the two-week photography period, participants engage in a one-on-one reflective listening interview where they discuss the photographs they created and co-create a healing action plan based on these discussions. The interview provides a structured opportunity for participants to explore and articulate their healing process through photo-elicitation, allowing them to express their experiences visually and verbally. The intervention is delivered by trained research assistants with fidelity monitoring through audio recording and independent evaluation of a random sample of sessions.

Also known as: Photo-elicitation intervention for trauma survivors

Immediate Intervention Group; Waitlist Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18 years or older
• History of interpersonal violence (IV) - identifies as a survivor of interpersonal violence
• Able to complete an interview in English
• Able to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Under 18 years of age
• Does not identify as a woman (male participants excluded)
• No history of interpersonal violence
• Unable to complete an interview in English
• Unable to provide informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Temple University: lead
• National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Women in Transition

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19122, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Sinko L, Saint Arnault D. Photo-experiencing and reflective listening: A trauma-informed photo-elicitation method to explore day-to-day health experiences. Public Health Nurs. 2021 Jul;38(4):661-670. doi: 10.1111/phn.12904. Epub 2021 Apr 4.

  PMID: 33813744 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Wounds and Injuries

Study Officials

• Laura Sinko, PhD, MSHP, RN

  Temple University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Laura M Sinko, PhD, MSHP, RN

CONTACT

9732140617; laura.sinko@temple.edu

Kayleigh Izzo, BS

CONTACT

6105501648; kayleigh.izzo@temple.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants are randomized to receive the PEARL intervention either immediately or after a 3-month waiting period, with the waitlist control group crossing over to receive the intervention after their waiting period ends.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 1, 2025
• First Posted: December 11, 2025
• Study Start: December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Last Updated: December 23, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)