LGBTQ Experiences of Stress in Relation to the COVID-19 Pandemic

We are a group of psychological researchers conducting a study on experiences of social isolation, resilience, and community for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, as sexual and gender minorities, LGBTQ individuals have had unique experiences with social isolation, resilience, and community. These concepts have taken on new meanings in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, we are interested in learning more about your personal experiences of stress and resilience in order to better understand societal responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you choose to participate in this research, you will be asked to complete a brief survey, which should take approximately 15-20 minutes. During the survey, you will be asked basic demographic information and have the opportunity to respond to several open-ended questions about your personal experiences both prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you decide to participate in this survey, you will not be asked to provide information that would allow anyone to identify you. There are minimal risks associated with your participation. Risk may be more likely if you are uncomfortable thinking about and answering questions about your identity, and answering questions about your experiences of stress during COVID-19.

Your participation is entirely voluntary. If you decide to participate in this survey, you do not have to respond to every question. You may select or type "N/A" for any given question if you do not wish to respond. In order to protect your identity, we ask that you not provide any information that could be used to identify you in open-ended questions. Data is being collected via the online platform Surveymonkey, and your IP address will not be recorded. To address any concerns you may have about the confidentiality of data collected in this manner, please see Surveymonkey’s Data Privacy Policy here.

 

Even though there are no direct benefits or incentives for participating in this study, we hope that the results of the study will shed light on the experiences of LGBTQ people in particular, and also allow us to understand general responses to stress and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Should you feel that you need further assistance, please call the Fenway Health LGBT Helpline at 888.340.4528 (toll free).

Completion of this survey signifies your voluntary consent to participate in this research and that you are at least 18 years of age and live in the United States. You may discontinue your participation in this study at any time by clicking "Exit this survey" in the upper-right-hand corner of the screen.

The Towson University Institutional Review Board (IRB) has approved this study. If you have any questions regarding this research or its purpose, please contact Dr. Paz Galupo pgalupo@towson.edu.  If you have any questions about your rights as a participant, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Katz, Chairperson of the Towson University IRB committee at ekatz@towson.edu or (410)704.3027.

 

Sincerely,

M. Paz Galupo, Ph.D.

Towson University

Kirsten A. Gonzalez, Ph.D.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville 

Roberto Abreu, Ph.D.

Tennessee State University