Frequently Asked
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Welcome! You’ve been invited to participate in a research study designed to look at how different types of online peer support can help male survivors regain control over some of their emotional struggles and feel more comfortable seeking help for issues related to their emotional health. In order to decide whether or not you wish to be a participant, we thought we would tell you a bit more about the study. In general participation involves a confidential phone interview with a member of the study team asking questions about your emotional well-being, completion of several online questionnaires and participation in a 6-week peer-led online group.
The full informed consent form and screening questions can be accessed here. This link includes detailed information about the research study, which includes its purpose, the procedures that will be performed, any likely risks of the procedures, possible benefits, and possible alternatives. Once you understand the study, you will decide whether or not to participate.
You may want to check out our videos which talk about the ways in which male survivors can participate in research and have their voice be heard, as well as challenges faced by male survivors. Or, check out our videos featuring Dr. Amy Ellis, speaking about how trauma impacts the LGBTQ+ community and Jacye Baron, one of our advisory board members, speak about being a sexual and gendered minority of color.
The full informed consent form and screening questions can be accessed here. This link includes detailed information about the research study, which includes its purpose, the procedures that will be performed, any likely risks of the procedures, possible benefits, and possible alternatives. Once you understand the study, you will decide whether or not to participate.
You may want to check out our videos which talk about the ways in which male survivors can participate in research and have their voice be heard, as well as challenges faced by male survivors. Or, check out our videos featuring Dr. Amy Ellis, speaking about how trauma impacts the LGBTQ+ community and Jacye Baron, one of our advisory board members, speak about being a sexual and gendered minority of color.
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Who can participate?
For the purposes of this study, those interested in participating will need to meet these criteria:
- 18 years of age or older
- English-speaking
- Report a history of sexual abuse, sexual assault, or unwanted sexual experience at some point in your lifetime
- Identify as male
- Identify as at least one of the following: gay, bisexual, transgender, attracted to men, or have sex with men.
- Experiencing emotional distress
- Haven’t received any psychotherapy or formal mental health counseling in past 60 days
- Live in the United States or Canada
What will I have to do to participate?
Participation begins with an initial screen that you complete online to make sure you are eligible to participate in this study.
After we receive your screening, and we determine that you meet the initial eligibility criteria, we will reach out to you to schedule a confidential phone interview. A member of the study team will ask you some additional questions about your emotional well-being and answer any questions you might have. Please note that if you are not eligible for the study based on the screener, a member of our team will reach out to you via e-mail to inform you of this.
After the phone interview, if you are eligible then you’ll be randomly assigned (same chances as flipping a coin) to participate in either of two online-based groups. Both groups will be led by Peer Leaders who are male-identifying and have self-identified histories of unwanted sexual experience. Prior to beginning group we will ask you to complete a series of online questionnaires.
The groups will last for 1.5 hours and meet weekly, online, for 6 consecutive weeks. You must be willing to attend all six sessions in order to participate. We’ll again ask you to complete online questionnaires at the conclusion of the 6-week group, after two months, and after four months after your participation in the peer-led online group.
Thank you for your interest in the Connect Study. Recruitment is now closed.
After we receive your screening, and we determine that you meet the initial eligibility criteria, we will reach out to you to schedule a confidential phone interview. A member of the study team will ask you some additional questions about your emotional well-being and answer any questions you might have. Please note that if you are not eligible for the study based on the screener, a member of our team will reach out to you via e-mail to inform you of this.
After the phone interview, if you are eligible then you’ll be randomly assigned (same chances as flipping a coin) to participate in either of two online-based groups. Both groups will be led by Peer Leaders who are male-identifying and have self-identified histories of unwanted sexual experience. Prior to beginning group we will ask you to complete a series of online questionnaires.
The groups will last for 1.5 hours and meet weekly, online, for 6 consecutive weeks. You must be willing to attend all six sessions in order to participate. We’ll again ask you to complete online questionnaires at the conclusion of the 6-week group, after two months, and after four months after your participation in the peer-led online group.
Thank you for your interest in the Connect Study. Recruitment is now closed.
Will I get paid to participate?
We value your time and effort in participating in this study. For each time that you complete questionnaires (before the group, after the group ends, two months after, and four months after), you will receive $20, for a total possible amount of $80.
If you participate in the final telephone interview (after the completion of the 6-week online group) you will receive an additional $30.
Please note, we are unable to provide compensation for completing the screening assessments or for attending group sessions.
If you participate in the final telephone interview (after the completion of the 6-week online group) you will receive an additional $30.
Please note, we are unable to provide compensation for completing the screening assessments or for attending group sessions.
What if I change my mind about participating after the study starts?
You are able to change your mind at any time. This study is voluntary, which means that you can withdraw your consent at any time.
What if something happens to me while I am participating in the group or the study?
Risk in this study is deemed minimal. You may feel some discomfort in responding to questions of a personal nature. If at any time you feel uncomfortable, you can stop answering the questions.
It is possible that you may feel discomfort by participating in group. Groups will not focus on discussing the details of an individuals’ traumatic experiences. But talking about the impact of such experiences may cause some distress or unwanted feelings. If you feel any distress or discomfort, we encourage you to alert one of the Peer Leaders and/or reach out to study personnel.
It is possible that you may feel discomfort by participating in group. Groups will not focus on discussing the details of an individuals’ traumatic experiences. But talking about the impact of such experiences may cause some distress or unwanted feelings. If you feel any distress or discomfort, we encourage you to alert one of the Peer Leaders and/or reach out to study personnel.
What benefits are there for me participating?
We anticipate that you may feel some relief in talking to peers about issues and concerns relevant to you. By participating in the research, you will be helping the field gain more information and knowledge about male survivors’ abuse, as well as ways to effectively help them feel less distressed.
Where does my information go? Who sees it?
Only the study team will see your responses to the online questionnaires and telephone interviews. We will make every reasonable attempt to de-identify, or remove any personally-identifying information, to ensure that your information remains confidential. If we publish results from this study, none of your information will be able to be linked back to you personally. The study team will have access to the deidentified data set, but only after your name and other identifiers have been removed.
Please note that because of the nature of participating in a group intervention, other members of the group will be able to identify you. Group members will be asked to keep all information discussed during the group in confidence. However, we cannot control if group members disclose confidential information about you.
Please note that because of the nature of participating in a group intervention, other members of the group will be able to identify you. Group members will be asked to keep all information discussed during the group in confidence. However, we cannot control if group members disclose confidential information about you.
Has this research study been approved?
Yes. This research study has been approved by the Yale University Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB is a ethics committee that reviews planned research to ensure it is appropriate. The protocol number is 2000024842.
Who will be running these groups? Who are the Peer Leaders?
We have 20 Peer Leaders who were nominated by themselves or other professionals to be trained by our team. Peer Leaders attended an intensive training, and have continued to receive weekly training by our team. In addition, Peer Leaders will consult with the research team on a weekly basis while groups are running.
All Peer Leaders have lived experience and self-identify as trauma survivors and males.
All Peer Leaders have lived experience and self-identify as trauma survivors and males.
Groups are online. What does that mean?
To reach as many people as possible, we will be hosting our meetings online using Zoom. If you've never used Zoom before, no worries, it's super easy. You'll be provided with a link that you can click on at the start of the group and you'll be signed in. We also have additional instructions that may be helpful here.
I do not have a webcam. Is this problematic?
In order to participate in this study, you must have access to a web-cam or video feature on your mobile device. Groups are run using the teleconferencing platform Zoom. To access instructions regarding how to you zoom, click here.
What do we do in the groups?
Groups are for 1.5 hours that meet weekly for 6 weeks. Peer Leaders are trained to work collaboratively with participants in a non-judgmental fashion.
During group, you'll learn about what motivates our behaviors and strategies for fostering motivation. Group content focuses on helping people help themselves by recognizing their own strengths and resources to help solve problems.
Groups will be informational and discussion-based. Discussing specific details about one's life related to traumatic experiences will not be a focus of the groups.
During group, you'll learn about what motivates our behaviors and strategies for fostering motivation. Group content focuses on helping people help themselves by recognizing their own strengths and resources to help solve problems.
Groups will be informational and discussion-based. Discussing specific details about one's life related to traumatic experiences will not be a focus of the groups.
