Couples! Chance to win one of four $500 prizes

To be entered in the draw, both you and your partner need must complete the survey.

Couples Coping with Stress
Dr. Valerie Whiffen at the University of Ottawa is conducting a study of how couples cope with stress. We are looking for couples who have been married or co-habiting for at least two years. You do not need to be stressed to participate. We are interested in couples that have both high and low levels of stress in their lives. Both partners must be healthy; neither should have been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.

To participate, you will provide some basic demographic information and complete several questionnaires on-line, which will take between 30 and 45 minutes. When you have finished, you will be given a password, which your spouse/partner will use to complete the same questionnaires. Do not discuss your answers with your partner until you have both finished the questionnaires.

We would like you to complete the same set of questionnaires two more times: three months from now and twelve months from now. To participate in phases two and three of the study, please enter your email address at the end of the questionnaires. You will be sent an automatic message at your email address with a link to this webpage when it's time for you to complete the questionnaires again.

Once the study is finished and the data are analysed, the results of the study will be available on this website.

Interested? If you are interested, please read over the rest of this page carefully.

What you have to do to participate

To participate in the study please complete the questionnaires as honestly as you can. There are no right or wrong answers, and we encourage you not to think about the questions too long. Usually, the first thing you think of is the best answer for you.

The Study is Voluntary, Anonymous, and Confidential

Participation in this study is completely VOLUNTARY. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time. You may leave blank any question that you feel uncomfortable answering and you may discontinue your participation at any time. We do not ask for your name at any time. You will be asked for your email address so that we can remind you to complete your questionnaires at the follow up. However, email reminders are generated automatically by the program and the email addresses are stored in a file that is not accessible to the researchers.

Costs and Benefits

Some of the questions are of a personal nature and ask about how you interact with your spouse/partner or how you feel. There is a small risk that answering these questionnaires may arouse some negative feelings. If this occurs, you are encouraged to discuss your feelings with someone you trust, such as a friend or loved one.

For every set of questionnaires you and your partner complete, we are offering to give you a chance to win one of four $500 prizes in the form of a gift certificate to the on-line store of your choice, such as the Future Shop. You will be asked for your email address when you have finished the questionnaires. If you want a chance to win a prize, please enter your email address.

Clicking on the button below indicates that you consent to participate in the study.