Principal Investigator:
Carissa Augustyn, PhD
Adjunct Scientist, Forensic Research Unit,
University of Ottawa’s Institute of Mental Health at the Royal Carissa.Augustyn@theroyal.ca

Co-Investigator:
Michael Seto, PhD
Director, Forensic Research Unit,
University of Ottawa’s Institute of Mental Health at The Royal,
Michael.Seto@theroyal.ca

Study’s Funder: World Childhood Foundation

REB Number: 0015

INTRODUCTION

You are being invited to participate in a research study. You are eligible to participate in this study because you are age 18 or older and identify as a father or step-father who has had sexual thoughts and/or feelings towards your children (biological, adopted, or step-children, including children of a partner you reside with). As the survey is in English, you should be confident in your ability to understand English. Taking part in this study is voluntary, and there is no financial compensation for completing this study. The study will take approximately 15 minutes of your time.

This consent form provides you with information to help you make an informed choice. Please read this document carefully and ask any questions you may have. All your questions should be answered to your satisfaction before you decide whether to participate in this research study.

IS THERE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

The study’s investigators, Dr. Carissa Augustyn and Dr. Michael Seto are receiving financial payment from the World Childhood Foundation to cover the cost of conducting this study.

WHY IS THIS STUDY BEING DONE?

The purpose of this study is to better understand the personal, situational, and family characteristics of fathers and step-fathers who have sexual thoughts and/or feelings towards their biological or step-children.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL TAKE PART IN THIS STUDY?

It is anticipated that about 120 people will take part in this study.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING THIS STUDY?

The aim of this study is to better understand the personal, situational, and family characteristics of fathers and step-fathers who have had sexual thoughts and/or feelings towards their children. To achieve this, you will be completing a survey that asks about: 

• Your experience with your sexual thoughts and feelings (e.g., how often you have them)
• Your family dynamics and relationship with your partner (if applicable) 
• Your beliefs about sex in general 
• How you cope with and manage your sexual thoughts and feelings 
• Your experiences growing up  
• Basic demographic information (e.g., employment status) 

You will be asked to answer a few different styles of questions. For example, you will be asked to review and select which option(s) apply to you (e.g., which coping strategies you use) and rate your experiences (e.g., how rewarding is your relationship with your partner).

We will NOT ask you about any past or current sexual behaviour.

Your participation is entirely voluntary and anonymous. You may choose to not participate, skip questions, or leave the study at any point. We will not be collecting any identifying information about you. If you wish to exit the survey and remove your responses once you have started the study, please select the “leave survey and delete data” button available on each page. As responses are anonymous, we will not be able to remove your responses from consideration if you do not click this button. The survey is anticipated to take about 15 minutes to complete.

We expect the results of the study to be known in December of 2026.

HOW LONG WILL PARTICIPANTS BE IN THE STUDY?

The survey is anticipated to take about 15 minutes to complete.

CAN PARTICIPANTS CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE STUDY?

You can choose to end your participation in this research (called withdrawal) at any time without having to provide a reason. You may choose to not participate, skip questions, or leave the study at any point. If you wish to exit the survey and remove your responses once you have started the study, please select the “leave survey and delete data” button available on each page.

As responses are anonymous, we will not be able to remove your responses from consideration if you do not click this button.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS AND BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN THIS STUDY?

You may not receive direct benefit from participating in this study. Your participation will contribute to our understanding of the experiences of fathers and step-fathers who have sexual thoughts and/or feelings towards their children. The information learned from this study will help inform the development of self-help resources and interventions specifically for fathers and step-fathers who experience these thoughts and feelings. 

Risks for participating in this study are minimal. You may experience some emotional discomfort answering questions. You are not obligated to answer questions that make you feel uncomfortable. As we recognize the general sensitive nature of the topic, mental health resources are provided here and in the debriefing form at the end of the survey:

United Kingdom Specific: www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/get-help

United States Specific: https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/tools-resources/individuals/index.htm

Canada Specific: https://www.ccmhs-ccsms.ca/resources/mental-health-resources 

International: https://www.helpguide.org/find-help.htm 

There is some social and legal risk associated with your participation. Importantly, while we will not be asking for identifying information or asking you any questions about your behaviour, if you were to disclose identifying information about you and/or your children (e.g., full-name, address, phone number) and information that suggests you: a) are at risk of harming yourself; b) at risk of harming someone; or c) know of a child being harmed or at risk of harm, we are legally required to report this information to relevant authorities (e.g., law enforcement). However, because your responses are anonymous, we will not be asking for any identifying information, and we will not be asking about any past or current sexual behaviour, this risk is minimized. In order to reduce this risk further and further safeguard your anonymity, we recommend that you take the following steps:

• Complete this survey in a private area using a private computer with secure internet (e.g., WiFi within your home)
• Avoid using a shared computer. However, if necessary for use, ensure that the browsing history is cleared and the browser window is closed after completing the survey
• Avoid completing this survey on internet that is publicly accessible, as this is often not secure
• Do not enter any identifying information in the open-ended boxes

If you are concerned about your sexual thoughts or behaviours, or have questions about child sexual abuse, the link provided contains a list of low/no-cost resources available (also available at the end of the survey):

https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/moore-center-for-the-prevention-of-child-sexual-abuse/resources/csa-prevention/

HOW WILL PARTICIPANT INFORMATION BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL?

If you decide to participate in this study, the research team will only collect the information they need for this study.

This study is confidential and anonymous. We will not ask you for information that discloses your identity or the identity of your children. As stated above, you may choose to not participate, skip questions, or leave the study at any point. If you wish to exit the survey and remove your responses once you have started the study, please select the “leave survey and delete data” button available on each page.

Your privacy is protected by the server at www.soscisurvey.de (no storage of IP addresses; use of SSL encryption with a signed certificate; server is secured against unauthorized access according to common standards; access to the server is SSH-encrypted; the questionnaires do not use any cookies). The data you provide is securely held on a server in Germany. There is very little risk associated with storing data in an outside server in Germany and it is protected by the highest level of encryption available (TLS 1.2). In fact, “in an international comparison, Germany offers a very high level of data protection – both with regard to the obligations of companies as well as with regard to governmental/agency access and interference” (see www.soscisurvey.de/en/privacy). Further, the data are subject to legal regulations such as the Federal Data Protection Act, and the EU General Data Protection Regulation.

After the data has been collected, it will be downloaded and converted to a password protected dataset that will be stored on a password protected computer and secure server at the Royal. At this time, the data will be deleted from the SoSci server. The dataset will be kept for 10 years. This database can only be accessed by people who are involved in research. The database may also be accessed by Royal Ottawa Healthcare Group Research Ethics Board to ensure continuing ethics compliance.

After data analysis, collective results may be published and/or presented at conferences. The results of this study will also be shared with this study’s funder, the World Childhood Foundation, and will be done so in a collective and aggregate format as would be done for a publication or conference presentation

ARE STUDY PARTICIPANTS PAID TO BE IN THIS STUDY?

You will not be paid for taking part in this study.

WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS IN A RESEARCH STUDY?

You have the right to be informed of the results of this study once the entire study is complete. If you would like to be informed of the results of this study, please contact a member of the research team (contact information is presented below and will also be made available in the Debriefing Form).

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the study, please contact Dr. Carissa Augustyn at Carissa.Augustyn@theroyal.ca. If you have any ethical concerns with the study, please contact the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group Research Ethics Board Alexis.Dorland@theroyal.ca

Please note that if you want to remain anonymous, you should use an email account not connected to your real identity (e.g., create a free Proton Mail account that provides end-to-end encryption: proton.me/mail). If you choose to do so using your real identity, we will know of your potential participation, however, we will not be able to link you to your personal responses.

Your rights to privacy are legally protected by federal and provincial laws that require safeguards to ensure that your privacy is respected.

By signing this form, you do not give up any of your legal rights against the researchers or involved institutions for compensation, nor does this form relieve the researchers of their legal and professional responsibilities.

WHAT IF RESEARCHERS DISCOVER SOMETHING ABOUT A RESEARCH PARTICIPANT?

During the study, we may learn something about you that we did not expect. While we will not be asking for identifying information or asking you any questions about your behaviour, if you were to disclose identifying information about you and/or your children (e.g., full-name, address, phone number) and information that suggests you: a) are at risk of harming yourself; b) at risk of harming someone; or c) know of a child being harmed or at risk of harm, we are legally required to report this information to relevant authorities (e.g., law enforcement). Since your responses are anonymous, we will not be asking for any identifying information about you and your children, and we will not be asking about any past or current sexual behaviour, there is a low likelihood that this situation will occur. In order to reduce this risk further, we recommend that you do not enter any identifying information in the open-ended boxes.

WHOM DO PARTICIPANTS CONTACT FOR QUESTIONS?

If you have questions about taking part in this study, please contact Carissa Augustyn at Carissa.Augustyn@theroyal.ca.

This study has been reviewed and approved by the Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research REB as study #0015. If you have any ethical concerns about the study, or the way it is conducted, please contact the REB office: Alexis.Dorland@theroyal.ca