Sleep disturbances and mental health: Part 1

This two-part questionnaire study is investigating the links between sleep disturbances and mental health such as anxiety, depression and stress (including suicidal thoughts). You have self-selected to take part by accessing this study. You do not need to have experienced/currently experience suicidal thoughts to take part.

What will I have to do if I take part?

If you choose to take part in this study, you will initially be asked to fill in some demographic questions. After this, you will be asked to complete questionnaires relating to aspects of your mental health today and in two weeks. This study should take between 20 and 30 minutes to complete depending on your reading speed. The questions used in the study are non-diagnostic. At the end of the study, you will be presented with debriefing information about the study.

Is the study compulsory?

Participation is completely voluntary, and throughout the study, you will be able to withdraw at any time without needing to give a reason (simply by closing your browser). However, once you reach the end of the survey you will be prompted to confirm that you wish to submit your answers. After this point, you will no longer be able to withdraw your data. You may also refuse to answer any questions you do not want to answer and still remain in the study. Any partially collected data may be used.

What are the possible disadvantages of taking part?

As this study investigates mental health issues, it is possible the subject matter and images shown could lead to mild distress. As such, if you feel that you may be adversely affected by this, we recommend you do not take part. Should you engage with the study and require support during or afterwards, please contact one of the following most relevant to you;

United Kingdom https://www.samaritans.org/ Telephone: 116 123

USA https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Telephone: 1-800-273-8255

Canada http://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/ Telephone: 1.833.456.4566

Australia https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Telephone: 13 11 14

New Zealand https://www.lifeline.org.nz/ Telephone: 0800543354



If you cannot find your specific country here, please click on the link below for an extensive list of worldwide sources of help:

http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

These links will be posted again in the debrief.

What are the possible benefits of taking part?

While you will not directly benefit from participation, you will be providing information to help gain insight on the effects of sleep difficulties on wellbeing. If you are a University of Chester Psychology student participating via RPS you will receive 2 credits.

Will taking part be kept confidential and what will happen to my data?

This study is entirely anonymous – no identifying information will be collected about you. The data from this project will be presented in student’s research dissertation projects and potentially at an academic conference and in an academic journal. All data will be anonymous and responses will only be analyzed at a group rather than individual level. All data will only be accessible to the student researchers and their supervisors working on this project and will be stored in a locked filing cabinet and on a secure password protected computer in a locked room. Anonymised data will be uploaded to an online repository (OSF), allowing other researchers to verify our findings. Partially collected data may be used if sufficient for analytic purposes. If you have provided us with your email address, this will not be passed onto anyone outside of the research team, and will be destroyed 2 months after the final survey is completed.

Further questions?

If you have any further questions, please feel free to email the students running this study or the supervisor:

Dara Blackwell 1716299@chester.ac.uk

Rafaella Georgiou 1705274@chester.ac.uk

Samantha Mayle 1721961@chester.ac.uk

Paige Rees 1704390@chester.ac.uk

Ms Rosina Pendrous r.pendrous@chester.ac.uk

Dr Kevin Hochard k.hochard@chester.ac.uk

If you do wish to take part in this study then please select “Next”. We also recommend that you make a record of this sheet, as you will be unable to access this again once you continue.

If you feel affected after participating in this study, it is important that you talk to someone right away. A debriefing sheet will be provided following this study which will contain contact details for further assistance.

Thank you for taking an interest in this study.