The SHINE Study

STUDY BASICS

Are you a relatively healthy adult male between the ages of 40 and 64? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to help learn more about how social interactions affect disease risk. Compensation provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

Studies have shown that differences in the way we interact socially can increase or decrease our likelihood of developing disease later in life. Some of the things that can influence social interactions are marital status, work life, personality, stress, dietary habits, exercise and other lifestyle factors. The purpose of this study is to help researchers find out if differences in social interactions can impact important disease risk factors like blood pressure and blood sugar, and affect certain biological changes in the body like inflammation and immune response. Researchers hope their findings about disease risk may lead to the development of programs for early disease prevention.

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?

• Men ages 40-64
• Live in Allegheny County
• No chronic disease such heart disease, diabetes requiring treatment, or cancer requiring treatment in the past year

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

This study involves completing one screening phone interview lasting 1-2 hours and attending four in-person sessions lasting 3-4 hours each. All appointments occur on weekdays. There are no evening or weekend appointments. Participation includes questionnaires, medical history, physical assessments, blood pressure monitoring, activity monitoring, and blood, urine, and saliva samples. Participants will not be asked to take any medications or be exposed to x-rays or radiation as part of this study.