Do Some Students Need Special Protection From Research on Sex and Trauma? New Evidence for Young Adult Resilience in "Sensitive Topics" Research

Experiences of participation in a population-based survey on violence: Emotional discomfort, disclosure concerns, and the perceived value of participation among adolescents and young adults

The accurate measurement of violence depends on high-quality data collected using methods that ensure participant confidentiality, privacy, and safety. To assess survey participants' emotional distress, discomfort, and self-perceived value of participating in the Honduras (2017), El Salvador (2017), Cote d'Ivoire (2018), and Lesotho (2018) Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys, which include sensitive topics such as sexual, physical, and emotional violence, we investigated individual self-reported distress and perceived value of participation by age, sex, and other demographic factors. We also examined the associations between past experiences of violence and both self-reported distress and perceived value of survey participation. Few individuals reported distress or concerns about disclosure. Across countries, 82.9% (Cote d'Ivoire) to 96.1% (Honduras) of participants indicated they were not afraid that someone might overhear their answers, 82.5% (Cote d'Ivoire) to 98.0% (El Salvador) said participation was not upsetting or stressful, and 93.3% (Cote d'Ivoire) to 98.6% (Honduras) said participation was worthwhile. The value of these interviews may exceed the negative feelings that some questions potentially elicit and can contribute to improved responses to victims.

Risks and Benefits of Adolescent Girls' Participation in Online Sexting Survey Research

The increasingly ubiquitous use of sexting among adolescent girls underscores the importance of empirical data on their sexting behaviors, motivations, and outcomes. To date, the majority of sexting studies have been conducted online; however, little is known about the extent to which responding to such socially sensitive questions may cause participant discomfort or distress. Research on this question is critical since in the absence of empirical data, institutional review boards (IRBs) may permit or place restrictions on online sexting studies based on an under- or overestimation of adolescent participation risk. The current online study asked 210 girls (aged 14-18 years, 55% non-Hispanic White, with sexting experience in the past 12 months) who previously registered to take online surveys on (1) their anticipated comfort in responding to a sexting survey include items on sexting motivations, positive and negative sexting consequences, and related sexual behaviors; (2) their perceptions of sexting research benefits/harms; and (3) comfort discussing similar topics in everyday life and with health professionals. Overall, participants were comfortable responding to sexting survey questions, rated sexting research as high benefits and low risks, and felt about the same as or more comfortable completing a sexting survey than discussing similar topics with peers, parents, or healthcare professionals. Findings suggest that anonymous online sexting studies can be classified as minimal risk research for adolescent girls and provide empirical support for IRB decisions to waive guardian permission for participation in such studies.

The Psychological Risk of Minimal Risk Activities: A Pre- and Posttest Study Using the Self-Assessment Manikin

It is difficult to apply U.S. Federal Code of Regulation's criterion for "minimal risk," because benchmarks of minimal risk have not been quantified. Our goal was to examine the psychological risks of several day-to-day activities. Using the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), we assessed the state valence and arousal of 432 patients and employees at a large Midwestern Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility before and after they had their blood drawn, saw their primary care physician or mental health provider, or took part in an exercise class. Exercise was associated with near-large to large salutary effects (Cohen's d = 0.76-1.17); other effects were small or moderate in positive directions (Cohen's d = 0.02-0.51). Our findings are a promising start toward establishing benchmarks and quantifying the psychological harms of minimal risk activities. Estimates such as these may help researchers determine whether their own research exceeds minimal risk.