Belonging, Identity, and Wellbeing Among Muslim Emerging Adults in Canada

Participant Consent Form

Project Title: Belonging, Identity, and Wellbeing Among Muslim Emerging Adults in Canada

Researcher: Izza Shahid, Undergraduate Student, Department of Psychology and Health Studies, University of Saskatchewan, (306) 966-6657, izza.shahid@usask.ca

Supervisor: Dr. Kristy Kowatch, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Health Studies, (306) 966-6691, kristy.kowatch@usask.ca

Purpose and Objective of the Research:
The primary purpose of the research is to train the student researcher in the methods of behavioural research. The secondary purpose of this research is to examine the associations between identity centrality, religiosity, and community belonging, and their relationship with psychological wellbeing among Muslim emerging adults aged 18–30. Identity centrality refers to how important a particular identity is to an individual.
Emerging adulthood is an important period for identity development and belonging. However, few studies have explored how identity centrality and community belonging relate to wellbeing for Muslim emerging adults inCanada. Findings may contribute to a better understanding of how faith and community belonging can better support wellbeing for Muslim emerging adults in Canada.

Procedures:

After reading this consent letter and indicating consent, you will be directed to the study questionnaires online on SurveyMonkey.
In the questionnaire, you will be asked to complete a series of demographic questions, alongside questions from Inclusion of the Other in the Self Scale, Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity – Adapted, Questions on Belonging and Community, Questions on Religiosity, and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale.
Your participation in this project is entirely voluntary. You are encouraged to only answer those questions that you feel comfortable with. You are encouraged to only answer those questions that you feel comfortable with.
You may withdraw from the study at any time without further explanation or penalty. If you wish to withdraw, you may do so at any time before completing the survey by closing your browser window. If you would like a copy of the debriefing form, please email the student researcher. Please note that this will compromise anonymity, but your information will remain confidential, and all emails will be permanently deleted.
The study should take approximately 30 minutes of your time.
After completing the entire questionnaire, you will be provided with the debriefing form.
You will be able to access a copy of the final report by contacting the supervisor or student researcher of the study after May 1st, 2026.
Please feel free to ask any questions regarding the procedures and goals of the study or your role.
At the end of the study, you will be directed to a debriefing form. This will also provide you with the opportunity to ask any further questions you might have about the study.

Potential Risks:

There are no known or anticipated risks to you by participating in this research.

Potential Benefits:

You may receive no personal benefits from participation in the study.

Compensation:

You will not receive any compensation for participating in this study.

Confidentiality:

Your participation is completely anonymous. The only way anonymity would be breached is if you contact the researchers directly. However, confidentiality will be maintained, and all emails will be destroyed.
Data will be coded using arbitrary participant numbers that will not be associated with any names or personally identifying information. Please do not include your name or any other identifying information in your responses to the open-ended questions.
Consent forms do not ask for your name or any other identifying information, as participation is based on implied consent. The only way anonymity would be breached is if you contact the researchers directly. However, confidentiality will be maintained, and all emails will be destroyed after questions have been addressed.
All data will be summarized in aggregate form. Data will be used for the student’s research project and may be presented at a research conference and/or published in an academic journal.

Storage of Data:

All information collected during this study is stored at SurveyMonkey accredited data centers that adhere to regulations including HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA. Please refer to the following link to see SurveyMonkey’s data security processes: https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/data- privacy/#. After data collection, the student researcher will download data from SurveyMonkey and store it on a secure, password-protected computer. Only the student researcher and supervisor will have access to the data.
The data may be published in an academic journal and/or presented at a professional conference, so the data will be stored for a minimum of five years after completion of the study. When the data is no longer required, it will be destroyed beyond recovery.

Right to Withdraw:

Your participation is voluntary, and you can answer only those questions that you are comfortable with. You are encouraged to only answer those questions that you feel comfortable with.
You may withdraw from the research project for any reason, at any time without explanation or penalty of any sort. Since the survey is anonymous, once it is submitted it cannot be removed.
Whether you choose to participate or not will have no effect on your position (e.g., employment, academic status, access to services), or how you will be treated.

Follow up:

To obtain results from the study, please contact the student researcher or supervisor (contact information above). Please note that if you contact the researchers by email or by other means that provides identifying information, then anonymity is lost, but confidentiality will remain protected with the emails being destroyed within the researchers’ university email account after you are sent the study result.

Questions or Concerns:

Contact the researchers using the information at the top of page 1;
This research project has been approved on ethical grounds by the Department of Psychology Research Ethics Committee on November 7th, 2025. Any questions regarding your rights as a participant may be addressed to the Behavioural Research Ethics board through the Research Ethics Office ethics.office@usask.ca (306) 966-2975. Out of town participants may call toll free (866) 966-2975.

Consent:
By completing and submitting this questionnaire, your free and informed consent is implied and indicates that you understand the above conditions of participation in this study.