Study Name: Facebook use and symptoms of depression and anxiety



Researchers: Nina Khanti. I can be contacted at ninakhanti@gmail.com



Purpose of the Research: To investigate whether there is a relationship between an individual’s Facebook use and symptoms of depression and anxiety.



What You Will Be Asked to Do in the Research: Fill out questionnaires that will take approximately 10 minutes of your time.



Risks and Discomforts: I do not foresee any risks or discomfort from your participation in the research.



Benefits of the Research and Benefits to You: You will broaden your knowledge on the use of social media and how this may be associated with depressive and or anxiety symptoms. Additionally, you will be contributing to the field of research in Psychology, specifically in the field of Social Media.



Voluntary Participation: Your participation in the study is completely voluntary and you may choose to stop participating at any time. Your decision not to volunteer will not influence the nature of your relationship with York University and or the researchers included either now, or in the future.



Withdrawal from the Study: You can stop participating in the study at any time, for any reason, if you so decide. If you decide to stop participating, you will still be eligible to receive the promised remuneration, if any, for agreeing to be in the project. Your decision to stop participating, or to refuse to answer particular questions, will not affect your relationship with the researchers, York University, or any other group associated with this project. In the event you withdraw from the study, all associated data collected will be immediately destroyed wherever possible.



Confidentiality: All information you supply during the research will be held in confidence and your name will not appear in any report or publication of the research. The data will be collected by Survey Monkey. This form will be kept separate from any other material that you are given so that we will never be able to identify who completed what tests etc. Your data will be safely stored in a locked facility for two years and only research staff will have access to this information. If this study includes observational data collection- the researchers will never disclose the name of the participant associated with any such obtained data. The data will be protected by an encrypted password and will be terminated after two years. Confidentiality will be provided to the fullest extent possible by law.



Questions About the Research? If you have questions about the research in general or about your role in the study, please feel free to contact Dr. Ed Haltrecht either by telephone at (416) 736-2100, extension 66178 or by e-mail (haltrech@yorku.ca) This research has been reviewed and approved by the Human Participants Review Sub-Committee, York University’s Ethics Review Board and conforms to the standards of the Canadian Tri-Council Research Ethics guidelines. If you have any questions about this process, or about your rights as a participant in the study, please contact the Sr. Manager & Policy Advisor for the Office of Research Ethics, 5th Floor, York Research Tower, York University (telephone 416-736-5914 or e-mail ore@yorku.ca).