title: Ethical issues in research on sensitive topics: participants' experiences of distress and benefit.
abstract: While many studies ask participants to disclose sensitive information or to participate in emotionally arousing tasks, little is known about participants' subjective experiences of discomfort and benefit. Ethics review committees, therefore, have little information about participant experiences to guide their informed decision-making. We asked undergraduate females about their experiences in a study that included an experimental session, interviews, and self-report measures on sensitive topics. We examined results overall, and compared the responses of individuals with and without childhood abuse experiences. Participants who had experienced child abuse were more likely to report distress due to remembering the past, but also more likely to report that participation was helpful. Implications for future research, and recommendations for review boards, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5439, USA. amy.naugle@wmich.edu
authors.forename: Suzanne E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Naugle
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carter-Visscher
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Abby
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seifert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D004644:Emotions / Q000941:ethics*; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research; D032984:Ethics, Research; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008568:Memory; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D035842:Research Subjects / Q000523:psychology*; D012650:Self Disclosure; D057566:Self Report; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D055815:Young Adult