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Why Some People Become Obsessed with Health and Muscle: A Look at Early Life Challenges, Mattering and Self-Agency


Consent Form
Contact Information of the Principal and Co-Investigator


Melanie O'Neill Fear and Anxiety Lab
Principle Investigator Co-Investigator
Professor Research Lab
Vancouver Island University Vancouver Island University
Melanie.oneill@viu.ca

Purpose: This study aims to enhance our understanding of eating behaviours and body image perceptions. The research team hopes that this investigation will contribute to a deeper understanding of individual eating habits, problematic eating behaviours, and treatments for body image issues.

Description: You are kindly invited to participate in this voluntary online survey. The survey covers various topics, including eating behaviours, body-image, social media use, adverse childhood experiences, mattering and self-agency.

Time: It is estimated that your participation will take approximately 25-30 minutes.

Procedures: First, you will be taken to the consent form and asked to provide your consent. To consent, you select ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ If you consent to participate in the survey, you click ‘next’. Upon providing your consent, you will be directed to the survey's first portion – demographic questions. Following the demographic portion of the survey, you will be presented with the Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS). Upon completion of the DMS, you will be asked to complete the Locus of Control Scale (LOCS). Then you will be met with a check-in. Following the check-in, you will be asked to complete the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS), the Social Media Use Scale (SMUS), the Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire and the General Mattering Scale (GMS). Once the survey is completed, you will receive an online debrief form, after reading the debriefing form you click ‘done’ and your survey participation is complete. After you have been debriefed, your participation in the study is finalized, and you can exit the survey.
Potential Direct Benefits and Risk of Harm to Participants: Your participation may not provide direct personal benefits. However, it is expected that the study will contribute to a greater understanding of individual eating behaviours and body-image perceptions. This scientific contribution could help advance psychological research and provide knowledge that could benefit other individuals struggling with body-image perceptions or disordered eating.

Please note: Some of the survey questions may make you uncomfortable, and triggering to those who have previously experienced trauma. These scales include: the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) questionnaire, the Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS), the Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS), the Locus of Control Scale (LOCS) and the General Mattering Scale (GMS). To minimize this risk, the full-scale names that will be used in this study have been provided below, links to the scales are also available for your review. In addition, throughout the survey, participants will be informed of all scale names and any potential triggers you may encounter. If you feel that you are unable to complete a survey, you are free to decline to answer any questions you do not wish or you may decide to withdraw from participation at any time by closing your browser. If you close your browser before clicking the 'submit' button at the end of the survey, the information you provide will not be used in the study.

The list of psychological surveys included in the study include:

The Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACEs): This questionnaire is used as a historical tool to assess one’s negative childhood experiences. This scale is commonly used in population studies and is not used as a diagnostic tool.Questions on this scale may lead to emotional or mental vulnerability, particularly in relation to traumatic experiences from your childhood. Individuals with high ACE scores are healthy and resilient. Throughout the study, if you are experiencing any form of fatigue or distress, please refer to the resources provided on the consent or debriefing form. In addition, should you experience an emotional response to any question or portion of the survey you are able to refrain from answering questions on this portion of the survey. Should you wish to withdraw from participation, you may simply do so by closing your browser. If you close your browser before clicking the 'submit' button at the end of the survey, the information you provide will not be used in the study.

The Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS): This questionnaire is used as a measurement tool for disordered eating behaviours. This tool is commonly used in psychological studies to assess one’s preoccupation with disordered eating related to orthorexia. This scale is commonly used as a screening tool for research and is not used as a diagnostic tool. Questions on this scale may lead to emotional or mental vulnerability, particularly in relation to your eating thoughts and behaviours. Throughout the study, if you are experiencing any form of fatigue or distress you are able to refrain from answering questions on this portion of the survey. Should you wish to withdraw from participation, you may simply do so by closing your browser. If you close your browser before clicking the 'submit' button at the end of the survey, the information you provide will not be used in the study.
The Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS): This questionnaire is used as a measurement tool used to assess a person’s desires, attitudes and motivations behind a desire for a muscular body. This tool is commonly used in psychological studies to assess a person’s motivations behind their desire for increased muscle mass. This scale is commonly used as a screening tool for research and is not used as a diagnostic tool. Questions on this scale may lead to emotional or mental vulnerability, particularly in relation to your body-image perceptions. Throughout the study, if you are experiencing any form of fatigue or distress you are able to refrain from answering questions on this portion of the survey. Should you wish to withdraw from participation, you may simply do so by closing your browser. If you close your browser before clicking the 'submit' button at the end of the survey, the information you provide will not be used in the study.

The Locus of Control Scale (LOCS): This questionnaire is used as a measurement tool used to assess a person’s belief in the extent to which they can control life events as opposed to life events being controlled by fate/luck or other people. This tool is commonly used in psychological studies to assess a person’s beliefs that they are in charge of their own life. This scale is commonly used as a screening tool for research and is not used as a diagnostic tool. Questions on this scale may lead to emotional or mental vulnerability, particularly in relation to your feelings of control. Throughout the study, if you are experiencing any form of fatigue or distress you are able to refrain from answering questions on this portion of the survey. Should you wish to withdraw from participation, you may simply do so by closing your browser. If you close your browser before clicking the 'submit' button at the end of the survey, the information you provide will not be used in the study.

The General Mattering Scale (GMS): This questionnaire is used as a measurement tool used to assess a person’s perceived significance or general mattering. This tool is commonly used in psychological studies to assess a person’s feelings of significance and importance to others. This scale is commonly used as a screening tool for research and is not used as a diagnostic tool. Questions on this scale may lead to emotional or mental vulnerability, particularly in relation to your feelings of personal significance to others. Throughout the study, if you are experiencing any form of fatigue or distress you are able to refrain from answering questions on this portion of the survey. Should you wish to withdraw from participation, you may simply do so by closing your browser. If you close your browser before clicking the 'submit' button at the end of the survey, the information you provide will not be used in the study.

For more information on the scales used in this study, please see the scale link provided below:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k84h9h_D2EwvZYxXaehuGW1aSIvvjoMHK8-t5mOTK_w/edit?tab=t.0

The survey is anonymous, meaning no personally identifiable information will be collected. Please refrain from including your name or any information that might identify you.
Management of Research Information/Data: Please be aware that SurveyMonkey is being used to collect your survey responses. Survey data will be stored on SurveyMonkey servers outside of Canada. Thus, the data you provide would be subject to SurveyMonkey's data management and privacy policies, which are not protected by Canadian privacy legislation, and may be accessed by foreign governments under their laws (see https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/legal/privacy/).

The confidentiality of all records will be strictly maintained. The data collected will be electronically stored on a secure drive at Vancouver Island University. Access to this data will be limited to the principal investigator and co-investigator. Consent forms and raw data obtained for this study will be retained on the secure drive for the duration of the project and deleted from SurveyMonkey and the drive no later than five years after collection. The completion date for this project is September 30, 2026; however, aggregated data may be retained for future research purposes.

Sharing of Results: The results of this research will be written in an academic paper, presented at conferences and submitted to an academic journal for publication.

If you have any questions or concerns about the research during your participation or would like to receive the final research report, please do not hesitate to contact the Principal Investigator at Melanie.O’Neill@viu.ca

Ethics: If you have any concerns about your treatment as a research participant in this study, please get in touch with the VIU Research Ethics Officer by email at reb@viu.ca. The REB File Number for this study is: 103759.

To save this consent form, please take a screenshot, print this form or email the Principal Investigator at any time.

Should you need support at any time, please see the resources below:

National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC)
Call: (866) 633-4220
Website: https://nedic.ca

The Listening Ear Canada
Call: (517) 337-1717
Website: https://theear.org

Certified Listeners Society
Website: https://certifiedlisteners.org/support/

9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline
Languages: English and French
Hours: 24/7
Phone: 9-8-8
*By selecting YES, I confirm:

I have read the above form, understand the information, and acknowledge that my participation is voluntary. I can withdraw at any time before hitting submit.

I am over the age of eighteen (18+) and currently live in Canada.

I consent to participate in this research study.(Required.)