What is it? The purpose of the study is to explore the role that weight lifting may have on healing from past traumatic experiences.

Who can participate? To be eligible for the study, participants must have a self-reported trauma history and have been engaged in weight lifting exercises for at least 3 months, now or in the past.

What is trauma?

Trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances experienced by an individual, group or community as physically, emotionally, or psychologically harmful or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects on the individual’s  functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being. 

How do we define weight lifting?

Weight lifting is a type of resistance training that uses weights such as barbells, dumbbells and weight machines. Weight lifting provides a stress to the muscles that causes them to adapt and get stronger, similar to the way aerobic conditioning strengthens your heart.

What do I have to do: Attend a zoom interview for approximately 1 hour with an optional follow up interview for 30 minutes, answering questions about how weight lifting may have impacted your healing from past traumatic experiences.

How: Contact Dr. Eva Nowakowski-Sims of Barry University, School of Social Work or Mariah Rooney, LICSW to set up a remote video interview at a time convenient for you!

What do I get: Although there is no direct benefit to you, your information will help increase knowledge about the potential role weight lifting plays on trauma recovery. If you participate in the study, you will receive a $20 e gift card to Target.

Any risks/discomforts: The primary risk of this research is a loss of confidentiality. 

Some of the questions included in the interview may make you feel uncomfortable.  Only answer the questions you are comfortable in answering. You can also stop the interview at any time. A crisis hotline number will be provided for intervention and support services if you experience any emotional distress and need someone to talk to. 

Contact Information:

Principal Investigator: Eva Nowakowski-Sims

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 561-622-2732

Co-Investigator: Mariah Rooney, LICSW

Email: [email protected]

This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Barry University, so you may contact

IRB Point of contact: Jasmine Trana, Telephone: (305) 899-3020 , E-mail: [email protected]