Briefing Form

Dear participant,

I am inviting you to take part in this research study, which regards whether or not childhood trauma can forecast Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) due to discrimination and altruistic (related to empathetic concern) or antisocial behaviours. In this project, I am investigating how PTG and altruistic actions can be employed as protective factors against the development of antisociality. The results of this study will contribute to our understanding of the development of PTSD or PTG due to discrimination, and I hope those findings will galvanize psychotherapy researchers to develop more suitable psychotherapeutic treatments for individuals from minority groups.

STUDY PROCEDURES

In this research project, you will be asked to answer questions regarding the symptomatology of PTSD and PTG related to experiences of discrimination, experiences of potential childhood traumas that you have faced, as well as possible altruistic and antisocial behaviours that you have found yourself acting out. The research process will last from 20 to 25 minutes.

RISKS

Relying on current and available trauma research, it is foreseen that there will be no risk of harm to you by research participation. However, you might feel slight distress due to the nature of the questions about childhood traumas and the association of discrimination with PTSD. You may decline to answer any or all questions and you may terminate your involvement at any time if you choose.

However, after finishing the questions, in the debriefing section, you will find sources of therapeutic treatment and legal advice in case you are seeking care and support.
 
BENEFITS

Whilst there will be no direct and fruitful benefits to you, you will be able to contribute to the body of knowledge in psychology through your participation. Despite that, you will learn more regarding the symptoms of PTSD, how these symptoms can appear in the context of perceived discrimination, what signs mirror childhood traumas, altruistic and antisocial behaviors, and how the process of PTG can take root after traumatic events.
 
CONFIDENTIALITY

Your responses to this research study will be anonymous. Please do not write any identifying information on your responses. Every effort will be made by the researcher to preserve your confidentiality and anonymity. Any of your answers that would make it possible to identify you or any other participant will never be included in any sort of report. The data will not be accessed by anyone other than the researcher himself, and undisclosed to individuals outside of the research process. They will be stored in a password-protected computer in the PI’s locked private office, and at this office, only the researcher has access. Your potential answers will be saved in a password-protected file of the aforementioned computer, which will be accessible only to the researcher. All data will be stored for six years. After this period, your responses will be destroyed.

In addition, you need to create a 7-digit code in the statement of consent, in order to learn more about the research process, or about the potential findings, or even if you wish to withdraw your data/answers. After creating your 7-digit code, you can provide it to the PI (principal investigator) via email, and ask him your questions or requests. After that, and for reidentification purposes, the PI will ask you the demographic characteristics (e.g., sex, age, sexual orientation and racial status) that you have provided in the demographic questionnaire.

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