Participant Information Sheet (PIS)

Study title:

When Scrolling Becomes Stressful: Investigating Upward Social Comparison as a Mediator Between Social Media Use and Perceived Stress in Women Aged 25-34

You are being invited to take part in a research study. Before deciding, it is essential to understand why the research is being conducted and what it entails. Please take time to read the following information carefully. Please ask the lead researcher if anything is unclear or if you require further information. The researcher’s details are included on this form, should you wish to ask any questions before taking part.

Thank you for reading this.

What is the purpose of the study?

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between daily social media use and perceived stress in women aged 25-34 and to what extent comparing oneself to others helps explain this relationship. This study will examine whether social comparison can help explain the link between social media use and increased perceived stress. By improving understanding the underlying mechanisms between daily social media use and increased stress, the findings may help shape future research and interventions.

Why have I been chosen?

You have been invited to take part because this study is particularly looking for women between 25 and 34 years who use social media daily. You are eligible for this study if you use any social media platform at least once a day and you are fluent in English.

Do I have to take part?

It is up to you to decide whether to take part. If you decide to participate, you will be given this information sheet to keep and asked to sign a consent form. If you decide to participate, you are still free to withdraw without giving a reason. You are free to withdraw at any point before submitting your survey answers without giving any explanation. Further, you may request withdrawal of your data for up to 72 hours after submission. After that, withdrawal is no longer possible since your IP address will be permanently deleted from the data base, making the data fully anonymous and impossible to identify your answers.

What will happen if I decide to take part?

If you agree to participate, you will be asked to complete a short online survey.

The survey includes questions about demographics (age, gender, etc), your social media use, social comparison, and experiences of stress. The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete. Participation is anonymous and voluntary, with the right to withdraw at any point during the survey and within 72 hours after submission.

After submission, the data will be analysed by the researcher.

What are the potential benefits and risks of taking part?

Although there are no direct benefits to you if you participate, taking part will provide a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms explaining the relationship between daily social media use and perceived stress, which may ultimately benefit women by reducing the negative impact social media has on their wellbeing. There are no risks to you in taking part outside of those you would experience in everyday life. However, by taking part, you may remember things that you may find upsetting.

If this occurs, you have the right to leave the survey at any point or skip questions that make you feel uncomfortable. Any decision you make will be respected.

Will my taking part in the study be kept confidential?

Yes. All the information about your participation in this study will be kept confidential. The survey you completed will be stored on a password-protected computer only accessible to the researcher.

Only the researcher and their supervisor working on the project will have access to the information, which may then be subject to external examination. You will not be identifiable in any report as the data will be grouped together, and all identifying information will be removed.

What will happen at the end of the research study?

The collected data will be analysed and reported as part of a Dissertation for the MSc Psychology of Mental Health and Wellbeing at the University of Wolverhampton. All results will be reported anonymously and no individual participant will be identifiable.

The data will be stored securely in accordance with the university policy and the GDPR (2018) for the current academic year plus six additional years and will then be permanently deleted.

What if I have a problem or concern?

If you have any concerns, please contact the Dean of Research Culture and Postgraduate Research, Prof. Laura Caulfield, at L.Caulfield@wlv.ac.uk, or the administrative lead and research integrity manager, Jill Morgan, at J.Morgan4@wlv.ac.uk.

Who has reviewed the study?

This study has been reviewed and approved as ethically appropriate by Faiza Qureshi.

Contact for further information

If you have any questions, you can contact the researcher by emailing l.m.oehm@wlv.ac.uk. You can also contact the lead researcher’s supervisor Faiza Qureshi by emailing f.qureshi3@wlv.ac.uk.

Thank you for your interest in participating in this study.