About the study
Participant Information Sheet
Research Title: The Moderating Role of Compassion and Fears of Compassion in the Relationship between ASD Symptoms and Psychological Wellbeing
Research Supervisors: Dr Stanley R. Steindl (University of Queensland), in collaboration with Dr Marcela Matos (University of Coimbra, Portugal) and Dr Trevor Mazzucchelli (Curtin University)
Psychology honours student: Ebonie Hall (University of Queensland)
Psychology Masters student: Kristy Cooper (Curtin University)
Thank you for your interest in participating in this research project. Please read the following information about the project to decide whether you would like to take part in this research. In addition, please feel free to ask any questions you might have about our involvement in the project via the email addresses below.
Any participants of the study must be aged at least 18 years or a student of the University of Queensland. If you decide to participate in this research, please remember that your participation is voluntary. If you do not wish to participate, you do not have to. If you decide to take part and later change your mind, you are free to stop at any time, and you would not need to give any explanation for your decision to stop participating. If you choose to stop participating, your data will not be used in the research.
You will be given the Participant Information and Consent Form to sign, and you will be given a copy to keep. Your decision, whether you take part, or not to take part, or to take part and then withdraw, will not affect your relationship with the University of Queensland.
What is this research about?
Compared to neurotypical individuals, those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and sub-clinical autistic traits are more likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorders. In addition, research has found that compassion and self-compassion have a positive effect on mental health (Kirby et al., 2017), while fears of compassion have been found to have a negative impact on mental health (Kirby et al., 2019). However, no studies to date have explored how compassion-based interventions may affect the relationship between ASD and psychological well-being.
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the role that compassion, fears of compassion, emotional regulation and self-criticism play in the relationship between autistic traits and psychological well-being.
This study is being conducted by Ebonie Hall as part of the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours) degree requirements at the University of Queensland under supervision by Dr Stan Steindl and secondary supervision of Dr Marcela Matos (University of Coimbra, Portugal), and by Kristy Cooper as part of the Master of Clinical Psychology degree requirements (Curtin University) under supervision by Dr Trevor Mazzucchelli.
What will I need to do?
Participants are asked to fill out questionnaires that measure autistic traits, types of positive affect (i.e., active, relaxed, safe/warmth), negative emotional states (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress), emotional regulation, self-criticism, compassionate engagement and action, and fears of compassion. Participation in this study will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes and occur online.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
This research will be theoretically informative in underpinning how these variables affect one another and the relevance of compassion-based interventions for ASD populations. Consequently, theoretical understandings about what variables affect the psychological well-being in clinical and sub-clinical ASD populations may aid in creating or applying appropriate therapeutic tools. Specifically, adapting interventions to be more sensitive to the psychological and social difficulties that adult ASD populations experience.
What are the possible risks and disadvantages of taking part?
Participation in this study should involve very minimal physical or mental discomfort and no risks beyond those of everyday living. If, however, you should find any question to be particularly difficult or uncomfortable, you are free to omit answering or participating in that aspect of the study.
If your participation in this study causes you to feel any elevated physical or mental discomfort, please access an appropriate support service. UQ students can access counselling through student services by making an online appointment via the UQ website. You can also obtain confidential support through the following options:
- Beyondblue - 1300 22 4636
- Lifeline - 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800.
What will happen to the information about me?
All information collected about you will remain confidential. Only members of the research team will have access to the data. All data will initially be collected with a unique identifier created by you that you may use to identify your data should you later wish to withdraw your data from the study. Following completion of the study, all data will be de-identified and all analyses and reporting of findings will be done in such a way that responses will not be able to be linked to any individual.
The data you provide will only be used for the specific research purposes of this study. After data has been analysed and the study published the research team will remove any coded data that allows the data to be re-identified, and then the collected data will be indefinitely stored on a password protected data repository only accessible by the research team.
It is anticipated that the results of this research project will be published and/or presented in a variety of forms. In any publication and/or presentation, information will be provided in such a way that you cannot be identified, except with your expressed permission.
What will happen if I decide to withdraw?
Your participation in this research is voluntary and you are free to withdraw from the research anytime without needing to provide any explanation, and you would not receive any penalty or bias as a result of your withdrawal. Should you decide to withdraw, your data will not be used in the research.
If you wish to remove your data from the study after completion, please contact one of the project staff at their email addresses listed below. In your email, please state your unique identifier you will create during the completion of the study. The unique identifier will be used to re-identify and remove your data.
Can I hear about the results of this research?
If you would like to learn the outcome of the study in which you are participating, you can contact the research team at the email addresses above after 7th October 2022, and you will be sent a summary of the study and findings.
Who can I contact if I have any concerns about the project?
This study adheres to the Guidelines of the ethical review process of The University of Queensland and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. You are, of course, free to discuss your participation with project staff (contactable on: ebonie.hall@uqconnect.edu.au or s.steindl@uq.edu.au). If you would like to speak to an officer of the University not involved in the study, you may contact the Ethics Coordinator on +617 3365 3924 / +617 3443 1656 or email humanethics@research.uq.edu.au
Thank you for your participation in this study.
Ebonie Hall and Dr Stan Steindl
This research Ethics ID number: 2022/HE000477