Solo Backpackers Needed For SUNY Survey

Those people who say you're crazy for taking a long solo journey with a backpack? Somebody wants to know if there's any truth to that.

A City University of New York psych student is conducting a survey of folks who've been on a solo backpack trip of at least six months in the last ten years. The results are expected to aid in understanding the backpacker brain; administrator Michal Weber writes that this "... unique group of people, backpackers... have rarely been studied in psychology. (The study) will also further our understanding on the impact of backpacking on people."

The backpacker survey, which takes up to an hour to complete, can be found here. You're asked to describe things like the best and worst parts of traveling alone, and many questions are a bit intimate, though you may find them interesting incentive for reflection... sample yes / no items:

• "I usually end up hurting those closest to me."
  
• "I would like to be a hermit forever."
  

Could the headshrinkers have a notion that long-term solo backpackers may have - ah - social skill problems? Prove you're as normal as anyone! Have at 'er.

Via Travelpost.com.