How does RINGS complete its research?
What does participation in the study involve?
How will my participation make a difference?
I am in a different romantic relationship, now. Should I still fill out the survey?
What is the RINGS Project?
Readiness and Resilience in National Guard Soldiers (RINGS) is a research project conducted through the Minneapolis VA Health Care System in collaboration with the University of Minnesota. RINGS aims to find out what factors help soldiers and their partners stay physically and mentally healthy when they experience stress.
Why is RINGS being conducted?
The goal of RINGS is to advance our understanding of the processes contributing to the resilience of soldiers and their romantic partners.
Study investigators are using the data and findings to try and discover new pathways to enhance resilience and improve health outcomes of active duty service members, veterans, and their families.
How does RINGS complete its research?
RINGS is a longitudinal research study that follows participants over time. Military service members and their romantic partners were provided with a collection of surveys about their physical wellbeing and mental health before, during, and after deployments. RINGS is able to characterize the ways in which people differ following deployment-related stressful events and the individual factors that may influence those differences.
What does participation in the study involve?
Soldiers who are invited to participate in the newest wave of the RINGS study will complete one 90 minute survey using a computer. This includes a collection of questionnaires about their experiences and beliefs. Participants will provide responses via an online survey portal. When taking the survey, it is important for participants to set aside enough time to complete from start to finish in one sitting (about 90 minutes). Additionally, consider completing the assessment in a private place with minimal distractions.
Who can participate?
RINGS study investigators have pre-selected a subgroup of past RINGS participants for further assessment. This is a special group who has been willing to provide study responses in the past.
How will my participation make a difference?
As a RINGS participant, you will be part of an important project that may positively impact future service members. It is critical that RINGS investigators receive survey responses from as many people as possible so they can get a complete picture about the different ways people respond and adapt to challenges over time. The eventual goal of the RINGS study is to improve training resources and enhance resilience among people associated with the military.
Will any members of my chain-of-command or promotion boards ever see the information that I provide on my surveys?
Participation in RINGS is completely voluntary. All of your responses and the information you provide is confidential. Some of the information you provide may be sensitive or personal. However, this will not be shared with the National Guard. We are separate from the National Guard, and the information you provide for this study will be kept strictly confidential. We are bound by law to keep sensitive information that could be traced back to you confidential and secure.
This commitment to your confidentiality is important to us as researchers. Our ability to study resilience effectively depends on you knowing that your information will be guarded. When we share research findings, we only share summaries that do not include information that could be traced back to one particular person.
What if I move?
If you move, we ask that you contact us via phone or email to let us know your new contact information or at the link provided: UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION HERE.
How safe is my information?
The information you provide is very secure. No personal identifying information is released as part of the study protocol and your digital survey responses are protected by the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and University of Minnesota computer security regulations.
I received a survey link (postcard, letter, or email), but have since separated from the military, can I still take part?
Yes! Regardless of the status of your association with the Guard, you are still an important part of the RINGS Project and we want to hear from you. You are part of a small group of soldiers and their partners selected for this study, and every response is valuable. In fact, separation from the military puts you in a very unique position to tell us about your experiences.
I am in a different romantic relationship, now. Should I still fill out the survey?
Yes! Regardless of your relationship status, you are still invited to participate. You have been selected because your past responses to RINGS questionnaires have been valuable. Your participation in the newest wave of RINGS would enhance our study of resilience.
