STUDY OVERVIEW
This is a study through the UCLA Cognition, Affect, and Neurodevelopment in Youth (CANDY) lab. We are looking at how stress and mood affect the brain and body. In this study, we will ask participants to undergo clinical assessments, provide blood samples, undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, complete cognitive tasks, and answer questionnaires about their mood and life experiences. This study will take place over 18 months, with one session to determine eligibility and another laboratory session scheduled within 2 weeks once eligibility is determined. 12 weeks after these baseline assessments, participants will be asked to complete these assessments again. All subsequent assessments after the 12-week follow-up will take place over Zoom and will be conducted approximately 3 months apart, along with brief self-report surveys. Our research staff are fully vaccinated and will be following strict COVID-mitigation standard operating procedures for any laboratory-based procedures. Per UCLA regulations, we will also ask that potential participants abide by certain guidelines to minimize COVID-19 transmission risk.
STUDY SPECIFICS
The first session will be completed either in Dr. Ho's lab space at UCLA or over Zoom. At this session, you and/or your child will be asked to complete interviews and online questionnaires. You and/or your child will also be asked to complete a social media profile for a smaller component of this study that examines social media usage. This first session is anticipated to last no more than 5 hours. This initial session will determine your child's eligibility for the rest of the study.
The second session will take place at the University of Southern California (USC) and will last about 4 hours and will include an MRI brain scan, cognitive tasks, and blood/saliva sample collections. The MRI and biospecimen collections will occur before and after the cognitive test. You will be compensated for your travel to UCLA and to USC.
After 12 weeks you will be asked to complete these procedures again. After you will be asked to complete brief questionnaires and complete an interview over Zoom every 3 months (a total of 5 online assessments), which we expect will not take more than 1 hour each time.
You will be paid $50/hour for your participation for the baseline and 12-week assessments, which we expect will take about 9 hours per timepoint. You will be paid up to an extra $50 after the 12-week assessment based on performance during the computerized tasks at the baseline and 12-week assessments. We will also cover any parking or travel related expenses up to $100 per visit. If you complete both the baseline and 12-week follow-up assessments, you will earn an extra $25. Finally, after the 12-week follow-up, there will be a total of 5 online follow-up assessments that take place every 3 months. These Zoom assessments will be compensated at $20/hour, with $5 per completion of each survey (total $25). If you complete all 7 assessments of the study you will also be given an additional $100 bonus. Together, there is a potential to earn up to $1200 (not including parking and transportation costs). We will issue payment soon after completion of each assessment unless requested otherwise. We will issue payment soon after completion of each assessment unless requested otherwise. Payment may only be made to U.S. citizens, legal resident aliens, and those who have a work eligible visa. There is no cost to you for this study.
All aspects of our study are completely voluntary. If you and/or your child want to stop at any point in the study, you may do so without penalty.
To be eligible for this study:
- You must be between the ages of 18-21 or you must have a child that is between the ages of 14-17 years who has NOT been experiencing sad moods, irritability or a lack of interest in their activities
- You must be eligible to receive payment in the United States
- You must read and speak English fluently
- You should have no immediate plans to leave the Los Angeles area
Your participation in all study-related activities, including requests for information, will be kept strictly confidential.
If you are interested in participating or receiving more information, please fill out the survey below!
Alternatively, you can contact the study coordinators, Sara, Tiffany, Abby, or Paris at (424) 259-5701 or e-mail us at uclacandylab@ucla.edu and mention the UCLA TIGER Study. Please refer to the "UCLA TIGER study" in your phone call or email. For more information about participant's rights contact the UCLA Office of Human Research Protections Program at (310) 825-5344.