The purpose of this study is to better understand the individual experience of the COVID-19 pandemic of adults aged 50 and over. The study is being conducted by Carissa Roberts as part of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at the University of Queensland, under the supervision of Dr Leander Mitchell and Professor Nancy Pachana.
As a participant in this study, you will be asked to complete an online questionnaire that asks questions regarding your demographics, COVID-19 experience, and aspects of personal qualities. A paper version of the questionnaire can be made available to you if you do not have a computer (or other such device) or stable internet access. It is expected that the questionnaire will take you approximately 30 minutes or less to complete.
Participation in this study is completely voluntary and you are also free to withdraw at any time without prejudice or penalty. If you do wish to withdraw, you may simply stop completing the online questionnaire and any responses that you have provided (or completed) to that point will not be included in the study. Similarly, if you wish to withdraw but have requested a paper copy of the survey, simply stop completing the questionnaire and do not return it via the reply paid envelope.
It is possible that participants who have been significantly and/or emotionally impacted by COVID-19 may experience negative emotions when completing the survey. If participants anticipate that such questions may be distressing, they are encouraged to consider whether or not this research project is suitable for them. Beyond this, participation in this study should not involve physical or mental discomfort, and no risks beyond those of everyday living. The participant may experience some fatigue during the completion of the questionnaire, however they are of course free to withdraw at any time if so desired.
The findings of this study will contribute to the current knowledge base of protective mental health factors associated with pandemics. While this might not be of benefit at the level of the individual participants, it will be of benefit to the ageing population more broadly.
All data collected as part of this study will be stored confidentially. Only members of the research team will have access to the data and all data will be destroyed after 5 years. The online questionnaires are to be completed anonymously and so no identifying information will be stored with the data.
If participants request a paper copy of the questionnaire, then their name and address will be required to mail the questionnaire and reply-paid envelope to them, however this information will be stored entirely separate to the questionnaire responses. The data from hard copies of questionnaires will be entered electronically before being shredded.
Participants do have the option of providing contact details should they wish to be kept updated on the findings of the study, however, this information will be kept entirely separate to the questionnaire responses.
Information obtained during this study may be published in scientific papers and journals, however the data will be reported in such a way that responses will not be able to be linked with any individual participant. The data you provide will only be used for the specific research purposes of this study.
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.
Whilst you are free to discuss your participation in this study with project staff (Carissa Roberts contactable on +617 3365 7193 or carissa.roberts@uqconnect.edu.au or Dr Leander Mitchell contactable on +617 3365 6451 or leander@psy.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 Coordinators on +617 3365 3924 / +617 3443 1656 or email humanethics@research.uq.edu.au.
If you would like to learn the outcome of the study in which you are participating, you can contact me via carissa.roberts@uqconnect.edu.au or +61 7 3365 7193, leave your preferred contact details, and they will be placed on a mailing list. Once the study findings have been finalised, you will receive a brief overview of the outcomes.
Thanking you in advance for your participation in this study.
Carissa Roberts
PhD Candidate
The University of Queensland
This research Ethics ID number: 2021/HE000405.
I have read the Participant Information Sheet and agree to take part in this study. I understand that my participation is completely voluntary and that I may withdraw at any time without consequence. You do not have to give a reason, just close your browser. I understand that the results of the study will be reported in theses and journal articles; however I will not be identified individually.