The Human Cost of Beauty

Participant Consent Form

Study Title: The Human Cost of Beauty: A Global Study on Mental Health in the Beauty Industry
Principal Investigator: Meya Campbell, LPC-A
Email: info@meyasophia.com
Affiliation: Independent Researcher, Beauty & Mental Health Advocate

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this research is to explore the prevalence and impact of mental and emotional health challenges among beauty professionals globally. This includes conditions such as anxiety, depression, burnout, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and related emotional and occupational stressors. The goal is to increase awareness, improve wellness resources within the beauty industry, and influence supportive policies and education programs.

Participation Details
Time Commitment: The survey will take approximately 10–15 minutes to complete.
Participation: Your participation is entirely voluntary. You may skip any question you do not wish to answer and may withdraw from the study at any time without penalty.
Eligibility: Participants must be 18 years or older and currently or previously employed in the beauty industry (including students, stylists, barbers, nail techs, estheticians, makeup artists, etc.).

Confidentiality

All responses are anonymous and will be kept strictly confidential. No personally identifying information (such as name, email, or workplace) will be linked to your responses. Results will be reported in aggregate form only (combined data, not individual responses).

Potential Risks and Benefits

Risks: Some questions may cause mild emotional discomfort as they relate to mental health or personal experiences.
Benefits: Your participation contributes to groundbreaking research that aims to improve mental health support, education, and working conditions in the global beauty industry.

Compensation
There is no monetary compensation for participation. However, participants will receive early access to summarized results and wellness resources developed from this study.

Consent Statement
By continuing with this survey, you confirm that:

You are 18 years or older.
You understand the purpose of the research.
You voluntarily agree to participate.
You understand that your participation is anonymous and that you may withdraw at any time.

I agree to participate in The Human Cost of Beauty: A Global Study on Mental Health in the Beauty Industry.

I agreeI do not agree

1. Age range (multiple choice)

2. Gender identity

3. Country of residence

4. Ethnicity

5. Primary role in the beauty industry

6. Years of experience

7. Work setting

8. Average hours worked per week

9. Do you own or manage your own business? (yes/no)

yesno

10. Have you ever been formally diagnosed with any of the following? (check all that apply)

11. How would you describe your current mental health?

ExcellentGoodFairPoor

12. Over the past month, how often have you felt emotionally drained from work?

RarelySometimesOftenAlways

13. How often do you experience symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, sadness, or difficulty focusing related to your work?

RarelySometimesOftenAlways

14. How confident do you feel in managing work-related stress?

Very confidentSomewhat confidentNot confidentI feel overwhelmed most of the time

15. Have you experienced burnout in your beauty career?

YesNo

16. If yes, what were the main contributing factors? (check all that apply)

17. How supported do you feel by your workplace or peers when struggling mentally or emotionally?

Very supportedSomewhat supportedNot supported

18. How often do you take time off for rest or mental recovery?

RegularlyOccasionallyRarelyNever

19. If you chose rarely or never, what is the primary reason for rarely or not taking time off?

20. What helps you cope with stress the most?

21. Have you ever sought therapy or counseling for mental health?

YesNo

22. If yes, how would you describe the experience?

Very helpfulSomewhat helpfulNot helpful

23. Do you believe mental health is openly discussed in the beauty industry?

YesSomewhatNo

24. Would you use mental health resources if offered through your employer, school, or brand partnerships?

YesMaybeNo

25. What kind of support or resources do you wish existed for beauty professionals?

26. How often does your work affect your personal relationships or family life?

RarelySometimesOftenAlways

27. Do you feel emotionally exhausted after client interactions?

YesSometimesNo

28. Do you often feel like an “unofficial therapist” to your clients?

YesSometimesNo

29. What emotions best describe how you feel about your work right now? (check all that apply)

30. How would you rate your current physical health?

ExcellentGoodFairPoor

31. How physically demanding is your work on a daily basis?

Not at allSomewhatVeryExtremely

32. Have you experienced physical pain, fatigue, or injury related to your beauty work?

YesNo

33. If yes, which areas are most affected? (check all that apply)

34. How often does physical pain or exhaustion affect your mental health or mood?

RarelySometimesOftenAlways

35. Have physical health challenges ever caused you to take time off work or consider leaving the industry?

YesNo

36. Do you feel that your body receives adequate rest and recovery between workdays?

YesSometimesNo

37. In what ways do you care for your physical well-being?

38. How connected do you feel your physical health and mental health are?

Not connectedSomewhat connectedStrongly connectedCompletely intertwined

39. What does “the human cost of beauty” mean to you personally?

40. What changes would you like to see in the beauty industry regarding mental and physical wellness?

41. Is there a personal story or experience you’d like to share about how your career has impacted your mental health?

42. Would you be open to a follow-up interview? If so, please list your name and contact information below.