Participant Information

We invite you to participate in a study about your life satisfaction. Before coming to a decision on whether you would like to take part, please read the following information. If anything is unclear or if you would like further information about the study, feel free to contact us (email: am2763@kent.ac.uk).

Who is doing this research?

This research is being conducted by Amun Mohanty from the University of Kent under the supervision of Professor Theresa Gannon from the University of Kent.

Why are we doing this research?

With this research, we aim to better understand the relationship between sexual attraction to children and fulfilment/satisfaction with life. By examining the life satisfaction of minor-attracted people (MAPs), we intend to prevent further harm to children by promoting effective treatments and subsequent well-being for MAPs. We also recognize the inherent value of MAP’s well-being outside the context of offense prevention and believe everyone is deserving of the opportunity to live a good life. Thus, we hope to highlight the importance of well-being for MAPs, explain how the well-being of MAPs may relate to offending, and improve MAP well-being. To achieve this, you will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires measuring your achievement of the primary goods, eudaimonic well-being, and life satisfaction.

Why have you been chosen to take part?

We encourage anyone that is 18-years or older and is a member of B4U-ACT or Virtuous Pedophiles (VirPed) to take part in our study if they would like.

Do you have to take part?

Whether you take part in this study is completely your choice. If you decide not to participate in the study, please do not click on the consent form at the start of the study. If you choose to partake in the study, you can leave the study and end your participation at any point without giving a reason and you are free to leave questions unanswered if they are too distressing. But please note, during the study you will be asked some questions to ensure you adequately comprehended the materials used in the study. 

What will happen if you do decide to take part?

If you decide to participate in this study you will be asked to answer questions about your life satisfaction, priorities in life, and demographics. Please note that, as part of the demographics section, you will be asked about whether you have a sexual interest in children. The reasoning for asking you these questions will be explained in a debrief after you have completed the survey. Completing these tasks should take no more than 15 minutes, however, there will be some attention checks throughout the survey which will instruct you on how to respond to the question. Because we are administering this survey to many people, this is necessary to ensure that everyone is reading and thoughtfully responding to all the questions. 

Will your taking part in this study be kept anonymous?

All information you disclose during the study will be kept completely anonymous, as IP address tracking has been disabled for this survey.  

What will happen to the results of the research study?

The results will be written up in the supervised researcher’s thesis in partial fulfilment of a doctorate degree, and this thesis will then become part of public record. If we determine that our results will add to the literature in our field of study, the results may also be written up and prepared for publication in a scientific journal and or will be reported at professional conferences. Because all data will be anonymous, your answers will be kept on the Open Science Framework data repository. Furthermore, your data may be analysed with the help of AI and used in other write ups, publications, or conference presentations.

Who has reviewed the study?

This study was reviewed and approved by the University of Kent Ethics Committee.

Thank you for taking the time to read this Participant Information Sheet. Now that you know a bit more about our study, we hope you will consider participating in it. If you do want to take part in this study, please complete the consent form.

Further Information and Ethics

If you have any further questions about our study, please feel free to contact us and we will answer your questions to the best of our ability. If you are experiencing personal issues that are causing you distress, please feel free to contact us and or any of the following support lines:

Crisis Text Line (US, UK, Canada, and Ireland) – Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention for those experiencing any painful emotion and need support. Click the link to find Crisis Text Line and affiliated services for people in the US, UK, Canada, and Ireland.

            Contact Info: For US residents text HOME to 741741, info@crisistextline.org

Samaritans (UK, England, Scotland, Ireland Northern Ireland, Wales) – A 24/7 helpline for anyone having difficulty coping with an issue in their life. If you are seeking advice on a specific issue or need specialist support, they have put together a list of specialist organizations which can be accessed from their website.

Contact Info: 116 123, jo@samaritans.org

Stop It Now! (US, UK, Ireland)– A helpline, email and chat service for anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse and how to prevent it. They provide anonymous support for anyone who is worried about their own thoughts, feelings or behavior, or with any concerns about another adult or young person.

            Contact Info: 0808 1000 900

Supportline (UK) – A helpline open from 6 PM to 8 PM every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday that is aimed at helping callers to develop healthy coping strategies and improve self-esteem.

Contact Info: 01708 76 52 00, info@supportline.org.uk

988Lifeline (US, Canada) – A national helpline open 24/7 for anyone in the US or Canada who is dealing with mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just needs someone to talk to.

            Contact Info: 988

If none of the above helplines are available in your region, please use this link connected to findahelpline.com. By typing your country’s name into the site’s search bar, you can find helplines in your country that offer help with a range of different issues, including anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, domestic violence, sexual abuse and more.

If you have any concerns about the ethical conduct of the study, please contact the chair of ethics at the School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, psychethics@kent.ac.uk