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Empirical Study

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Informed Consent
A study of the affect of Optimism on Stress and Eating Habits

College of St. ScholasticaKatrina Norris, Undergraduate ResearcherDr. Darryl Dietrich, Faculty AdvisorDr. Andrine Lemieux, Faculty Advisor

Background Information:
This research study is looking at the relationship between optimism, stress, and fat intake. There is a link between fat intake and stress, but I hope to find another link with optimism. If a significant link is found, perhaps encouraging optimistic strategies, as well as stress management will make for a healthier society. To evaluate optimism, stress, and fat intake, I have compiled three different measurement scales into one computerized questionnaire.

Procedure:
After giving informed consent, you will proceed to fill out a computerized questionnaire. The first section will ask you to state your gender and age. Then, there will be three scales to complete, each with a variety of questions. The first set of questions will measure optimism based on a hope scale. The second set will measure your perceived stress based on the well-known global perceived stress scale. The third and final set of questions will be designed to measure the fat intake of your regular diet based on a variety of foods. All of the questions will be answered with the simple click of the mouse.

Risks and Benefits of Being in the Study:
First, there is a risk of embarrassment or social discomfort with the computerized assessment of hope, perceived stress, and fat nutrient intake. You may or may not feel uncomfortable answering questions about your personal attributes. You remain anonymous in the database and the questions are relatively harmless. You are able to complete the questionnaire wherever you feel comfortable.

Secondly, there is the risk of frustration and stress due to the need to schedule time to complete the questionnaire. This risk is unavoidable and varies from participant to participant.

Compensation: You may receive course credits in the form of extra credits

Confidentiality: Your participation in this study will be kept strictly confidential. There will be no way to trace any responses back to you.

Voluntary Nature of the Study: This project is completely voluntary and you are free to discontinue at any time with no adverse consequences to you.

Contacts and Questions:
• Katrina Norris, Undergraduate Psychology Student, CSS box 1141, [email protected].

• Darryl Dietrich, PhD, LP from the Department of Psychology can be reached at x6165 from any campus phone (723-6165 from off campus), [email protected].

• Andrine Lemieux, PhD, [email protected]

If you are uncomfortable addressing your question or concerns directly to Katrina Norris, you may also contact Gerald Henkel-Johnson, PhD, LP, who is chair of the Psychology Department at x6023 (723-6023 from off campus).

Statement of Consent:
I have read the information presented. I have been given the opportunity to ask questions and I have received satisfactory answers. I agree to participate in the study as described above. By clicking the ‘Yes’ option, you are giving your signature of informed consent.

Yes, I agree to the terms of the study and give my informed consent to continue.

No, I do not agree with terms of the study and will not participate.

What is your gender?

Male

Female

Please note, by selecting "No, my diet is not restricted by a physician " you will be allowed to continue through the quesitonnaire

Also note the back buttons on the browser are not applicable during the questionnaire. If for some reason you press "Continue" accidently or misrepresent yourself, close the window and start over by accessing the email with the questionnaire's hyperlink.

Are you on any sort of special diet prescribed by a physician?

Yes, I am on a special diet prescribed by a physician

No, my diet is not restricted by a physician

Directions: Read each item carefully. Please select the definition that best describes you and simply click one bubble.

Phase 1

	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True
I can think of many ways to get out of a jam.	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True

I energetically pursue my goals.	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True

I feel tired most of the time.	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True

There are lots of ways around any problem.	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True

I am easily downed in an argument.	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True

I can think of many ways to get the things in life that are most important to me.	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True

I worry about my health.	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True

Even when others get discouraged, I know I can find a way to solve the problem.	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True

My past experiences have prepared me well for my future.	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True

I’ve been pretty successful in life.	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True

	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True
I usually find myself worrying about something.	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True

I meet the goals that I set for myself.	Definitely False	Mostly False	Mostly True	Definitely True

Directions: The questions in this phase ask you about your feelings and thoughts during the last month. In each case, you will be asked to indicate how often you felt or thought a certain way. Although some of the questions are similar, there are differences between them and you should treat each one as a separate question. The best approach is to answer each question fairly quickly. That is, don't try to count up the number of times you felt a particular way, but rather indicate the alternative that seems like a reasonable estimate.

For the following questions choose from these alternatives: Never, Almost Never, Sometimes, Fairly Often, and Very Often.

Phase 2

	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often
In the last month, how often have you been upset because of something that happened unexpectedly?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the important things in your life?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

In the last month, how often have you felt nervous and "stressed"?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often
In the last month, how often have you dealt successfully with irritating life hassles?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

In the last month, how often have you felt that you were effectively coping with important changes that were occuring in your life?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

In the last month, how often have you felt confident about your ability to handle your personal problems?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often
In the last month, how often have you felt that things were going your way?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

In the last month, how often have you found that you could not cope with all the things that you had to do?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

In the last month, how often have you been able to control irritations in your life?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often
In the last month, how often have you felt that you were on top of things?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

In the last month, how often have you been angered because of things that happened that were outside of your control?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

In the last month, how often have you found yourself thinking about things that you have to accomplish?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often
In the last month, how often have you been able to control the way you spend your time?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties were piling up so high that you could not overcome them?	Never	Almost Never	Sometimes	Fairly Often	Very Often

How many slices of bread do you eat a day? (Please indicate type. e.g. "X slice of whole wheat")

How many biscuits or crackers do you eat a week? Please indicate how many servings and brands. e.g. Cheez Its, Wheat Thins, Triscuits, etc)

How many French loaves do you eat a week?

How many sandwiches do you eat a week? (Please indicate type of sandwhich, including the condiments. e.g. "X - Peanut Butter and Jelly, X - deli turkey, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise, etc")

How many rolls with chocolate do you eat a week?

How many croissants or rolls with fruit do you eat a week?

How many bowls of muesli do you eat a week? (Muesli = granola)

How many bowls of muesli with chocolate and fruit do you eat a week?

Serving Sizes

1 Slice of cheese
1/2 Cup cottage cheese
1 Ounce: Cheddar, Colby, Monterey, Mozzarella
1 Tablespoon Parmesan
1 Ounce Kraft Velveeta
2 Tablespoons Kraft Cheez Whiz

How many slices or portions of fat cheese do you eat a week? ("Fat cheese" = regular cheese that is not marked reduced fat or low-fat)

How many slices or portions of half-fat cheese do you eat a week? ("Half-fat" = reduced fat)

How many slices or portions of low-fat cheese do you eat a week?

How many slices or portions of fat meat products do you eat a week?

How many slices or portions of half-fat meat products do you eat a week?

How many slices or portions of low-fat meat products do you eat a week?

How many slices of bread with chocolate spread do you eat a week? (Chocolate spread = Nutella)

How many slices of bread with full-fat butter or margarine do you eat a week?

Serving Size and Definitions

1 Cup of milk
2 Tablespoons of Half and Half
1 Tablespoon liquid coffee creamer
4 Teaspoons powder coffee creamer

"Full Fat Milk" = Whole, Half and Half, coffee creamer
"Semi Skimmed Milk" = 2% or reduced fat
"Low Fat Milk" = 1%, low fat, skim, non fat

How many slices of bread with half-fat margarine do you eat a week?

How many slices of bread with low-fat margarine do you eat a week?

How many glasses of full milk products do you eat a week?

How many glasses of semi-skimmed milk products do you eat a week?

How many glasses of low-fat milk products do you eat a week?

How many slices of pizza have you ate in the past month? (Please indicate what type of pizza you have eaten, on average, in the past month. e.g. "X slices - pepperoni")

How many servings of lasagnes do you eat a month?

Serving Size

1 Baked Potato
3 Ounces of cooked meat, fish, and poultry (approximately the size of a deck of cards)

How many servings of mashed or baked potatoes do you eat a month? (Please indicate servings and types. e.g. "X servings of mashed potatoes, X baked potatoes")

How many portions of chips do you eat a month? (Please Indicate serving size and brands. e.g. "X servings of Sun Chips, X servings of Dill Pickle, etc")(1/2 Cup is one serving)

How many servings of fat ﬁsh do you eat a month? (Fat fish = Salmon, Tuna, Herring, Lake Trout) (3 ounces is one serving, approximately the size of a deck of cards)

How many servings of low-fat ﬁsh do you eat a month? (Low-fat fish = Cod, Flounder, Haddock, Halibut, Smelt, Pollock)

How many portions of high-fat meat do you eat a week? (Please indicate servings and type. Examples of high-fat meat= pork bacon, pork sausage, pork ribs, beef ribs, etc)

How many portions of half-fat meat do you eat a week? (Please indicate servings and type. Examples of half-fat meat = pork loin, beef sirloin, fried chicken breast, etc)

How many portions of low-fat meat do you eat a week? (Please indicate servings and type. Examples of low-fat meat = pork loin chops, cured beef, roasted chicken breast, etc)

How many portions of vegetarian replacement products do you eat a week?(Vegetarian replacement products = soy milk, rice milk, cheese replacements, mayonnaise replacements, tofu) (Please indicate the servings and type. e.g. "X servings of Chocolate Silk Soy Milk"

How many eggs do you eat a week?

How many tablespoons of mayonnaise do you eat a week?

How many tablespoons of other mayonnaise like sauces do you eat a week?

How many tablespoons of dressing and cream do you eat a week? (2 Tablespoon of salad dressing is one serving) (Please indicate servings and types. e.g. "X servings of ranch, x servings of Italian," etc)

How many tablespoons of gravy do you eat a week?

How many tablespoons of thinned gravy do you eat a week?

How many tablespoons of cheese sauce do you eat a week?

How many slices of cake and wafﬂes do you eat a week? (Please indicate portions and types or brands)

How many slices of pie do you eat a week? (Please indicate the number of slices and type of pie)

How many biscuits with muesli, chocolate, vanilla, nuts, . . . do you eat a week?

How many chocolate candy bars do you eat a week? (Please indicate servings and brands. e.g. "X servings of Snickers," "X servings of Hershey Bar") (1 bar per serving)

How many portions of nuts do you eat a week? (Please indicate serving size and type. e.g. "X servings of almonds, X servings of cashews, etc") (1 Ounce is one serving)

How many portions of ice cream do you eat a month? (Please also indicate type)

How many portions of cheese and meat e.g. at receptions do you eat a month?

Thank you for taking taking the time to participate.

The next page has verification of your participant ID. Print the next page for proof of participation for the possibility of receiving extra course credit from a CSS professor. Not all professors offer extra credit and it is your responsibility to verify with a professor of their position on accepting extra credit.

*Note: It is the decision of the professor to accept this for extra credit, as well as their decision for determining a possible value. It is your responsibility to uphold complete academic honesty and the values of CSS.

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