Connection Through Community:

Body Image and Gay Men

 

Explanatory Statement

My name is Robbie Macfarlane and I am conducting a research project with Dr Gordon Walker, a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology and Psychiatry towards a BArts Psychology (Honours) at Monash University. This means that I will be writing a thesis which is the equivalent of a short book.

I am inviting gay men from various walks of life to participate in the study with the aim of finding gay men with varying experiences of involvement in the gay community. For the integrity of the research it is important to include gay men who have a range of involvement in the gay community (from none to a lot) as well as various types of involvement.

Please click here to start the survey : www.SurveyMethods etc etc


The aim of the research
The aim of this study is to explore the effects that being a minority has on body image in gay men, and what sort of influence different types of involvement in the gay community may have on body image concerns.

Possible benefits
Your answers will contribute important information to help develop health programs for gay men, as well as developing preventative measures.

What does the research involve?
The study involves a questionnaire which will ask participants how they feel about their bodies and about their involvement in the gay community.

How much time will the research take?
The questionnaire will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

Inconvenience/discomfort
Participants should not generally feel any discomfort during the questionnaire. However, should you become upset while completing the questionnaire, you can choose to discontinue working on it. You may also like to seek assistance from the various services listed below:

Gay & Lesbian Switchboard Victoria
- Melbourne (03) 9663 2939
- Regional Victoria and Tasmania 1800 184 527

Gay & Lesbian Counselling Service of NSW
- Sydney (02) 8594 9596
- Regional NSW 1800 184 527

Gay & Lesbian Community Services WA (08) 9420 7201
1800 184 527

Gay & Lesbian Welfare Association QLD (07) 3017 1717
1800 184 527

Gay & Lesbian Community Services SA (08) 8422 8400
1800 182 233

Working it Out (Tasmania) (03) 6231 1200

Men's Line 1300 789 978

Life Line 13 11 14

Beyondblue Info Line 1300 22 4636

Please click here to start the survey : www.SurveyMethods etc etc


Can I withdraw from the research?
Being in this study is voluntary and you are under no obligation to consent to participation. However, if you do consent to participate, you may only withdraw prior to the questionnaire being submitted.

Confidentiality
Consent to participate will be implied when you click on the ‘next’ button at the bottom of this page. Names are not required on the questionnaire and all participants will remain anonymous.

Storage of data
Storage of the data collected will adhere to the University regulations and kept on University premises in a locked cupboard/filing cabinet for 5 years. The university does not share this iformation with other organisations or individuals. A report of the study may be submitted for publication, but individual participants will not be identifiable in such a report because it will be presented in summary form and no identifying information is collected.

Results
If you would like to be informed of the aggregate research finding, please contact Robbie Macfarlane at Robbie.Macfarlane@monash.edu  Or you may visit the following website after October, 2010 in order to view a report of the aggregate research findings: ctc.mn8.com.au

If you would like to contact the researchers about any aspect of this study, please contact the Chief Investigator: If you have a complaint concerning the manner in which this research <insert your project number here> is being conducted, please contact:

Dr Gordon Walker
Gordon.Walker@monash.edu
Phone 03 9903 2728

If you have a complaint concerning the manner in which this research (CF0/0705 – 2010000326) is being conducted, please contact:
Executive Officer, Human Research Ethics
Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC)
Building 3e Room 111
Research Office
Monash University VIC 3800

Tel: +61 3 9905 2052 Fax: +61 3 9905 3831  mailto:muhrec@adm.monash.edu.au

Thank you.

Robbie Macfarlane

Please click here to start the survey : www.SurveyMethods etc etc