Informed Consent 

INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE 

You are being asked to take part in this research study because you are a resident Macon County, AL and are over 19 years old.

This form will tell you everything you need to think about before you decide to agree or not agree to be in the study. It is your choice and you do not have to take part in this study. There is no direct benefit to being in this study. If you decide to be in the study, you can change your mind and leave the study without penalty.

Before making your choice:

• Please carefully read this form or have it read to you
• Please ask questions about anything that is not clear

If you join this study, please refer to our website at maconlives.com to view your bill of rights. By agreeing to join this study, you will not be legally bound to participate

The purpose of this research is to understand the lives and health of people in the rural South. Your participation in this study will help us better understand the sources of stress and strength for individuals in the rural South. This will hopefully lead to better resources to help improve your health and the health of others in your community. This study focuses on individuals living in the rural South because they face a unique combination of stressors.

As part of this study, we will ask you about sources of stress and resources you might have and your health. A portion of this study will take place online and over the phone. The screening portion of the survey should take 15 minutes and the self-administered portion of the survey will take between 45 to 60 minutes to complete. We realize that your time is valuable, so we will compensate you for your time.

If you agree that we can contact you in the future, there will be another part of this study that you may be randomly selected for. If you are selected for that part, we will recontact you. If you choose to join that portion there will be a separate consent process. We will go into more detail about what being in that portion of the study looks like if you are selected. If you do not give permission we will not recontact you.

CAN WE CONTACT YOU FOR POTENTIAL PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE RESEARCH? YOUR ELECTRONIC AGREEMENT INDICATES YOUR WILLINGNESS TO BE CONTACTED IN THE FUTURE FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES.

PROCEDURES

To be in this study, you be between the ages of 19-80 years old; U.S. born; primary residence in Macon County, AL; be able to understand English; and not have any serious illness or unstable disease (Cancer, HIV, Hepatitis, and Tuberculosis).

This study involves reading and responding to questions on a laptop screen. If you have trouble using the laptop or reading the questions, the researcher can teach you how to use the laptop and clear up anything that might be confusing or read and select the answers on the laptop for you. You can skip any questions you are uncomfortable answering, but we ask that you try to answer each of them.

You also have to agree to be willing to do all of the study measures and commit to the time that is needed to complete the study.

• Questionnaire Part 1: A research team member is going to ask you some questions about yourself. These questions will be about your family, your job, your household, where you live, and your health. This will take about 15 minutes.
• Questionnaire Part 2: You will complete a series of surveys using a laptop or computer. You will be asked to answer several questions about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences of living in the rural South. The questions should take approximately 45 minutes - 60 minutes to complete.

RISKS & DISCOMFORTS 

There is very little risk in participating in this study. You may feel some emotional distress when answering the questions. It is common for people to feel emotional when thinking about their past or stressful experiences. These types of questions are generally without risk, but if you do feel strong emotions at any question, you can stop at any time and talk to the researcher. Stopping early or skipping questions is okay. If you stop early we will give you graded compensation for the time you spent participating.

BENEFITS 

There is no direct benefit to being in this study.

ALTERNATIVES, COSTS, & COMPENSATION 

There are no costs to you being in this study. You will never be charged for being in the study.

For your time, you will receive $30 as a Visa Gift Card. You may choose not to be in this study or to leave at any time. If you stop early, we will give you graded compensation for time you spent in the study.

CONFIDENTIALITY 

If you decide to join this study, all of your information will be kept completely private. We will use a number to identify your information rather than your name. We will keep the information that links your name to your number on a secure, password-protected, electronic server that only a small group of researchers will have access to. We will not give your information to anyone in any way that would identify you.

We are required by law to disclose personal information if there is a threat to yourself or others or to report child abuse or abuse of elders or disabled adults.

WITHDRAW FROM STUDY 

You have the right to leave this study at any time without penalty. Being in this study is completely up to you. Your decision to leave or not to be in the study will not jeopardize your future relations with Auburn University or the Department of Human Development and Family Studies.

CONTACT INFORMATION 

If you have questions about this study, please ask them now or call Dr. Evelyn Hunter at (334) 521-6470. If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, you may contact the Auburn University Office of Research Compliance or the Institutional Review Board by phone (334)-844-5966 or e-mail at IRBadmin@auburn.edu or IRBChair@auburn.edu.