The Arkansas Interdisciplinary Sciences Laboratory in the department of psychological science is seeking parents and adolescents to participate in a paid study involving parental stress, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder, and its effect on children.

The study, funded by the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, involves parents and children ages 10 to 17 to come to the lab for a one to two hours and complete some interviews and questionnaires. There will be an assessment of brain activity in the adolescents. Parents will be paid $20, and adolescents will be paid $50 for their three- to four-hour participation in the study. The goal is to learn more about how stressful events in parents’ lives affect their relationships with their children and how families can be better assisted during difficult periods, especially adolescence.

The lab seeks primarily parents with PTSD or those who have a history of a traumatic event or events, as well as parents who do not have PTSD but who smoke cigarettes. Those interested in participating should contact the laboratory at 479-575-3523 and leave a message regarding the “ABI study” for Sarah Bilsky. More information is also available at the Families W.O.R.K. Program website.