Recruitment has now closed for this study.

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There are a few ways to take part - so choose which way suits you best!

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Option 1 - The Full Biomarker Project (if aged 18-22)

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In this part of the study you get your stress hormones analysed! We will ask you to provide some saliva samples over two days (you can do this at home in tubes we will post to you) and we will ask you to fill out a survey (<25 minutes). This has to be during Week 3 or Week 4 of this semester. Then, and this is important, we will ask you to do the same again in Semester 2 (Week 2 or Week 3) and complete a shorter survey (<10 minutes). There is only space for 150 students to do this part – please only express interest if you want to take part both semesters. To help compensate for any expenses traveling on-campus to return the cortisol kits to the designated drop-off point (University of Limerick) everyone that completes both time-points (semester 1 and 2) will receive a €10 voucher. If you are not a student at the University of Limerick we can include a prepaid envelope in your kit so you can return your samples by post; just let us know.

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Email Siobhán directly to take part in the biomarker project (siobhan.griffin@ul.ie).

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Option 2 - The Transitioning to University Surveys (open to all)

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If you still want to take part, but would rather not provide saliva samples (or are 23+) you still can! You can complete the survey this semester and then again next semester. The survey will ask general questions about psychological well-being and the move to university.

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Click here to take part in the survey only part of the study: https://unioflimerick.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_78rIiE37fhT2UYK

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Further information

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Title of Project: Psychological and physiological effects of starting university   

 

You are invited to take part in a research study. Before you decide, it is important that you understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. This Participant Information Sheet tells you about the purpose, risks, and benefits of this research study. If you agree to take part, we will ask you to indicate your Consent. If there is anything that you are not clear about, we will be happy to explain it to you. Please read this information sheet. You should only consent to participate in this research study when you feel you understand what is being asked of you, and you have had enough time to think about your decision. Thank you for reading this.

 

Purpose of the Study:  This study is looking at adjustment to university in Semester 1 and Semester 2. We are asking you to take part as an incoming first year undergraduate student, so we can see how the transition (change) to university life might influence mood and biological measures of health (i.e., stress hormones – which we assess from a saliva sample). Everybody experiences the move the university in a different way and we want to see what affects health. Your help with this project will give us significant insights into how to support students during this life stage.

 

TAKING PART

Can anyone take part?

Anyone can take part as long as you are:

(i) a 1st year undergraduate student

(ii) aged between 18 and 22

(iii) a non-smoker (as smoking affects stress hormones)

(iv) do not have a chronic immune condition (e.g. diabetes, arthritis), heart-related illness (e.g. angina, high blood pressure), or oral/peridontal disease (e.g., gum disease).

(v) not pregnant (as pregnancy affects stress hormones)

(vi) not taking glucocorticoids (i.e., steroids) or immunosuppressants

 

Do I have to take part?

It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you do decide to take part you will be asked to provide consent on the next page. If you decide to take part you are still free to withdraw at any time and without giving a reason. A decision to withdraw at any time, or a decision not to take part, will not affect your rights in any way.

 

What will happen to me if I take part?

We ask that anyone who takes part commits to taking part in the study at two time-points – first, in Week 3 of Semester 1 and then again in Week 2/3 of Semester 2.

 

We will ask you to answer some standard questionnaires online that ask you about your general health and lifestyle, some personality scales, and a few questions about your COVID-19 experience; this will take no more than 15-25 minutes of your time (depending how fast you read). We also wish to measure stress hormones. We will  give you 8 tubes, and ask you to provide us with some saliva samples over two days. Each day you will be asked to provide a saliva sample 4 times (first when you wake up, then 15 minutes later, 30 minutes later, and 45 minutes later). You do this in your own home when you wake up in the morning.

 

We will only use your saliva samples to analyse the amount of cortisol (a stress hormone) in your saliva, and note these values. We will then destroy the saliva samples in line with approved procedures.

 

We can either post you a kit with the tubes to provide the saliva in or arrange for you to collect the kit on-campus. You can return this kit to the designated drop-off point in the Psychology Department, or if you prefer we can give you a stamped address envelope to return the tubes in. We will then contact you to do the same in Semester 2.

 

In the kit, there will be instructions on how to take the saliva samples and a link to a video showing you the proper technique. If you are unsure about anything just send me an email!

 

To compensate for any costs incurred traveling to the post office to post back the saliva samples, or travelling to the University of Limerick, all participants who provide cortisol samples in Semester 1 and Semester 2, will receive a €10 voucher. If you are a Psychology student, you might have the option to sign up via SONA – in this instance you can also receive course credit in Semester 1.

 

If you like, you can take a quick follow-up survey a year later (5-10 minutes) to see how you are finding university. This is optional – if you would prefer for us to not contact you and delete your email address from our records after you take part in the second time-point please let us know.

 

We would also like to access your grade data after the Christmas and Summer exams; at the end of the survey we will ask you (i) if you want to do this, and if so, (ii) to enter your student identification number so that Siobhán can access this. You can select no here and leave this blank if you would prefer not to – it is completely up to you and does not affect the other elements of the study in any way.

 

What are the possible benefits in taking part?

The findings from this study will help us understand how the move the university affects biological indictors of stress affects and mood. The benefits of this may help us design ways to improve the university experience.

 

What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?

This study includes questionnaires that measure your feelings and well-being now and in the recent past. You might find while you are answering them that you would like to talk to someone about some of the issues raised. We will be happy to recommend someone to you.

 

What happens at the end of the study?

When everyone has completed the study we will combine all the data into an anonymized file. From this, we will analyze the data and publish the study results. This completely anonymized file, or parts of it, may be uploaded to an online research repository.

 

Confidentiality:

All information that is collected about you during the course of the research will be kept strictly confidential and will not be shared with anyone else. Results from the study will be reported as group data and will not identify you in any way.

 

What happens if I change my mind during the study?

Your participation is voluntary, and you are free to withdraw at any time without giving any reason and without your rights being affected in any way. We can also delete any data collected from you at your request. However, once the study is completed we will anonymize the data – at this stage we may still use your data as we cannot link your identity to the data collected.

 

What if I have more questions or do not understand something?

If you have any questions about the study you may contact the researchers. It is important that you feel that all your questions have been answered.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I would be grateful if you would consider participating in this study.

 

Contact names and numbers of the principal investigator:

Dr. Siobhán Griffin

Postdoctoral Researcher

Psychology Department,

University of Limerick

Siobhan.Griffin@ul.ie

 

This research study has received Ethics approval from the Education and Health

Sciences Research Ethics Committee (2021_09_01_EHS). If you have any concerns about this study and wish to contact someone independent you may contact:

Chair of the Education and Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee

EHS Faculty Office

University of Limerick

Tel (061) 234101