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Mental Health, Spirituality, and Psychoactive Substance Use
Welcome and thank you for taking the time to check out this study. This online survey is part of a research project exploring the relationships between mental health, spirituality, and the non-medical use of various psychoactive substances.
Psychoactive substances are chemicals that affect mental processes (e.g. thinking, mood, perception). This includes a very wide range of substances, some of which may be legal, such as alcohol and tobacco, others of which may be illegal, such as heroin and LSD.
Even if you do not use any psychoactive substances for non-medical purposes (including alcohol or tobacco) you are still eligible and encouraged to complete the questionnaire.
This anonymous, online survey uses validated, self-report scales to asses:
- Demographic and personality information (e.g., age, gender, education, etc.).
- Mental Health (e.g., feelings about one's self and one's functioning in life, etc.).
- Spirituality (e.g., religious/spiritual beliefs, spiritual experiences, etc.).
- Use (or non-use) of psychoactive substances (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids, psychedelics, etc.).
- Non-medical reasons for using those substances (e.g., relaxation, curiosity, personal growth, entheogenic purposes, etc.).
You may complete this questionnaire on any device connected to the internet (e.g., desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet, smartphone). However, it is highly recommended that you use a desktop, laptop, or large tablet for ease of viewing and completing the survey items.
You must be at least 18 years old and capable of fluently reading and writing English in order to participate in this study. The survey is designed to take about 20 to 25 minutes to complete in one sitting. However, you may save your responses and return to the survey at a later time to finish. If you choose to do so, you will receive a unique ID code that will allow you to regain access to your survey.
Participation in this study is completely voluntary, confidential, and anonymous. Even if you begin the survey you can change your mind at any time and withdraw without penalty by simply closing your internet window or browser. You may also decline to answer a particular question by leaving it blank or selecting "prefer not to answer."
Because the survey is entirely anonymous and you are not linked to your data, it is not possible to withdraw your data once you have submitted your responses.
The data collected from this survey is encrypted and stored on secure servers located at the University of Alberta, Canada. Your responses cannot be tracked through your IP address or any other means, and you do not require an email address to participate. Only the research team will have access to the data, which is protected with two-factor authentication. However, the Research Ethics Committee at the University of Alberta maintains the right to review research data should they deem it necessary.
The survey software, REDCap, was initially developed by researchers at Vanderbilt University, and is now used in over 100 countries. REDCap is compliant with Canadian legislation such as the HIA, FOIP, and TCPS2 as well as U.S. privacy requirements such as HIPAA. All data sent from your web browser to the REDCap server is encrypted with SSL. Data is encrypted and will be stored for a minimum of 5 years following completion of the research project. This data may be used in future studies, which also must be approved by the Research Ethics Board.
Although you will not receive payment, your participation in this study is highly valued. Modern society requires a comprehensive understanding of psychoactive substance use in order to foster public health and well-being. By taking this survey, you will be helping to expand our scientific understanding of this nuanced behaviour and advancing the evidence-based discussion on the role of psychoactive substances in society.
It is very unlikely that you will experience any harms from taking this survey. However, you may experience some discomfort from being asked to reflect on yourself and your life in order to complete the survey questions. Only complete the questions that you feel comfortable answering.
If you find yourself in crisis, you may access crisis-line support in your country by visiting:
http://www.yourlifecounts.org/need-help/crisis-lines
This study has been reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Board at the University of Alberta. If you have questions about your rights or how research should be conducted, you can call 1-780-492-2615. This office is independent of the researcher.
Research Investigator
Kevin St. Arnaud, M.Ed. (Ph.D. Candidate)
Department of Educational Psychology
6-102 Education North
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G5
kos@ualberta.ca
(780) 492-5245
Supervisor
Professor George Buck, Ph.D.
Department of Educational Psychology
6-102 Education North
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G5
gbuck@ualberta.ca
(780) 492-5245
The results of this study may be published in academic journals or presented at academic conferences, and will contribute to the completion of a doctoral dissertation.