Dear all,

My name is Konstantina and I am a PhD student at the University of Strathclyde. Together with Professor Sir Harry Burns, we are working on a project focusing on the Transformation for Wellbeing in Scottish Society.

We are conducting research which looks at the effects of social stress in men who are experiencing financial difficulties. Briefly, we collect saliva to measure hormones – the stress hormone cortisol and the male hormone testosterone – and see how they change when people engage in a finance-related task. There is a 50/50 chance of winning £25 from participation.

We hope that, ultimately, a better understanding of the effects that financial strain has on biological function will lead to the development of social interventions aimed at preventing individuals from ending up in poverty, escaping poverty traps, seeking help earlier, and conceivably reduce health inequalities in Scotland. With Sir Harry Burns’ help, the results from the project will be presented at a national and governmental level with the aim of creating a healthier society. Of course, we will provide you with detailed information about your own changing cortisol and testosterone levels.

We would be hugely grateful if you would consider participating in the project. You do not currently have to be in a trust deed to take part – just finding your financial life stressful. The study requires you to collect saliva samples on two separate days at home and on university premises (each less than 40 secs). You will also be asked to complete a finance form-filling task in Glasgow (travel expenses will be covered). This will take approximately one hour of your day. Additionally, you will be asked to complete several psychological questionnaires about things like personality, how you perceive life, how you interpret events in everyday life, and motivation. The study is approved by the University of Strathclyde ethics committee and participation is completely confidential and anonymous.

In order to be able to participate in the study you should be:

• A healthy male
• Age 20 to 40 yrs old
• Not visibly obese
• Not have severe acne, diabetes or high blood pressure
• Not be on a strict diet or seriously restricting calorific intake
• Not have previous history of kidney or liver disease
• Not have consumed illicit drugs for a period of one month before and during your participation in the study
• Not take natural supplements which alter cortisol levels

NB! Consumption of alcohol during the hours of saliva collection is also not allowed.

If you are interested, please do not hesitate to reply to this thread or contact me at: Konstantina.karastoyanova@strath.ac.uk