Comfort of Sexual and Behavioral Health Survey Research Participation among Undergraduate Students: Findings from a Random Sample of a Southern University

Many institutional review board (IRB) members often classify online sexual and behavioral health surveys as not meeting the minimal risk standard under the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) due to concerns that answering sensitive or controversial topics may cause discomfort. However, college students' comfortability in responding to such topics remains unknown. Undergraduate college students (<i>n</i> = 123) were asked about their comfort level in answering online survey questions about their sexual behaviors, alcohol use, drug use, and mental health. Additionally, the study examined demographic differences in comfort levels. Few participants reported overall discomfort when answering online survey questions about their sexual and behavioral health, and minimal demographic differences were found. Some IRB members may overestimate the discomfort participants experience when answering surveys about sexual behaviors, substance use, and mental health. Findings support the argument that online sexual and behavioral health surveys may meet the CFR criteria for minimal risk.