Last summer's flood is still a source of stress for many.
Vicki Michels, an associate professor of addiction studies and psychology at Minot State University, and her research partner Amy Canevello, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, are conducting research to find out how married flood survivors are dealing with the ongoing stress.
Michels said she wants to recruit up to 120 couples, who owned homes that were flooded at least to the first floor, to participate in two anonymous surveys. The couples can be of any age group.
Both the husband and wife will have to be willing to answer the questions on the survey, said Michels, and the survey will address the stress they are under, how they communicate with one another, and other related topics. It would take about 45 minutes to fill out each survey, one given at the start of the study and the second at the end of the study.
Michels wants to have all of the participants in the study signed up before the end of the summer.
Michels said couples can either take the surveys online or the survey can be mailed to them and they can return it to her. The couples will remain anonymous.
Michels said she is hoping to discover what communication styles and coping strategies are likely to help couples best manage stress and grow closer to one another during and following a crisis. While some couples end up fighting more or divorcing after such a stressful event, others actually end up growing closer to one another, said Michels.
Michels and Canevello, a Velva native, plan to publish the results of the study "Post-Traumatic Growth in Marital Relationships" in a journal. Canevello approached Michels about working with her on the study. Minot State students will also be helping with the study.
Michels said the study might assist others in helping couples deal with events like the catastrophic Souris River flood.
People who would like to participate in the survey or would like more information can call Michels at 858-3594.