Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of this study?

The purpose of this study is to understand how couples collaborate on everyday tasks during middle-aged and older adulthood.

Who is eligible to participate?

You are eligible to participate in this study if you and your partner are aged 45 years or older and you are proficient in English. You must also have been in your current romantic relationship for 5 years or more and live with your partner.

What is the duration of the study?

This is an ongoing study taking place over the next few years. We hope to be able to follow up with participants over time, but we are still interested in your participation even if you are not able to make a full commitment at this time.

How will I be involved in the study?

To kick off the study, we will ask you to complete two online or mail-in questionnaires.

To better understand couple's collaboration over time, we will follow up with you and your partner twice a year. One time we will ask you to update us, the second time we will share online or mail-in questionnaires as we did in the kick off.

During the course of the study, we will ask you to engage in one session in a convenient community location (e.g., library, ISU Research Park) and complete some tasks on your own at home.

Does this cost me any money? Do participants receive any compensation?

No, it doesn't cost anything! In fact, you will receive around $10 for each online survey you complete and will be compensated for your time when you complete the in-person session and the at-home session.

What considerations are being taken during COVID-19?

For everyone's safety, we are currently not holding in-person sessions until Iowa State University has stated it is safe to do so again with proper guidelines. Throughout the study, our questionnaires will be available online or via mail.