Regent University
INFORMED CONSENT DOCUMENT
PROJECT TITLE:
Humor Style and Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Licensed Counselors: An Adaptive Mechanism?
INTRODUCTION
The purposes of this form are to give you information that may affect your decision whether to say YES or NO to participation in this research, and to record the consent of those who say YES. This study is being conducted by Grace Cantor, a doctoral candidate at Regent University.
WHAT IS THIS STUDY ABOUT?
Several studies have been conducted looking into the subject of humor style, and its impact on symptoms of secondary trauma stress. The purpose of the study is to explore whether certain types of humor can be protective for counselors against developing symptoms of secondary traumatic stress, which is a risk factor in counseling.
If you decide to participate, you will join a study that involves answering 9 demographic questions and completing 3 assessments: the Humor Styles Questionnaire (32 questions), the Maintenance of Emotional Separation Scale (7 questions), and the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (17 questions). If you say YES, then your participation will last for approximately 25 minutes. All the questions are completed online via an electronic survey. Approximately 300-400 other licensed mental health counselors will be participating in this study.
WHO CAN BE IN THIS STUDY?
To participate, you need to have an active mental health counseling license.
RISKS AND BENEFITS
RISKS: If you decide to participate in this study, then you may face a risk of the possible emotional discomfort of answering some of the questions on the inventories related to humor style, emotional separation, and secondary traumatic stress. The researcher tried to reduce these risks by not collecting any identifying information about study participants and ensuring that all responses are confidential. And, as with any research, there is some possibility that you may be subject to risks that have not yet been identified.
BENEFITS: The main benefit to you from participating in this study is the opportunity to develop greater awareness of secondary traumatic stress, its impact, and potential ways to mitigate it. The study may also help better understand ways to prevent and treat secondary traumatic stress among counselors.
COSTS AND PAYMENTS
There are no expected costs to you other than your time to complete the survey.
You will not be paid for being in this study.
NEW INFORMATION
If new information becomes available that may affect your decision to take part, you will be notified as soon as possible.
FUTURE RESEARCH
We do not plan to use your information for future research.
KEEPING YOUR INFORMATION PRIVATE
All information obtained in this study is strictly confidential unless disclosure is required by law. The results of this study may be used in reports, presentations, and publications, but the researcher will not identify you. In addition, no identifying information will be collected about study participants, meaning that your name will not be linked in any way to the information that you provide.
All study information will be stored in secure, password-protected files.
LEAVING THE STUDY
It is OK for you to say NO. Even if you say YES now, you are free to say NO later, and walk away or withdraw from the study ‑‑ at any time.