Total time commitment: 2 hours 40 minutes

For eligible paramedics, participation would involve:

• Phase 1: Completing a short series of online questionnaires about important aspects of your job, your health, and your experience as a paramedic. These questionnaires will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. A 10-minute phone call with a member of our research team will also be scheduled at this time.

• Phase 2: Responding to a brief 5-minute online questionnaire (called a "daily diary") 2-3 times daily for 1 week at home. This week will capture 1 complete block of 4 consecutive shifts. Daily questionnaires will ask important questions about quality of sleep, stress, burnout, coping, and social support. Questions will be brief and primarily answered in a multiple choice format. Paramedics will not be asked to participate during working hours whatsoever.

During participating work days (4 consecutive shifts), paramedics will be asked to answer these questions three times a day: once upon waking before work, once upon arrival home from work, and once before going to bed at the end of the day. Each time point will take 3-5 minutes or less to complete.

On days off, paramedics will be asked to answer similar questions only twice daily: once in the upon waking and once before going to bed. This will occur for one day before the first participating work shift and two days after the last participating work shift, in order to examine a complete cycle of days on and off work.

In order to facilitate ease and efficiency of daily responding, participants can complete these daily questions online from the comfort of their homes.

• Phase 3: Completing a second series of short online questionnaires aimed at measuring important aspects of health and well-being, such as burnout, post-traumatic stress, and social support. These questionnaires are available online and take approximately 40 minutes to complete. Phase 3 may be completed at the participant's convenience.

Interpersonal Support

Participation in this study is contingent upon the accompanied participation of the paramedic's spouse or romantic partner. This is in order to more accurately answer questions about interpersonal support. We also welcome the participation of work partners. NOTE: It is only necessary that one paramedic have a participating spouse in order for both partnered paramedics to participate.

Participation of the spouse/romantic partner:

For those paramedics who are involved in committed romantic relationships (married or otherwise), and who live with their romantic partners, we are interested in gathering information from the spouse or partner.

Participating spouses will be required to answer similar daily questions over the same period of participation as the relative paramedics. Interested paramedics will be asked about potential spousal interest during their eligibility application. However, spouses of paramedics are welcome to apply at any time.

Participation in this study is contingent on the participation of a spouse or romantic partner.

Participation of the work partner:

We recognize the important role played by the paramedic’s partner at work. We also know that relationships at work have important effects on how individuals experience and cope with stress.

In order to account for the unique nature of the job, we are interested in obtaining information from partnered paramedics at the same time. Such participation is highly encouraged in order to account for more dynamic stress and coping processes across work and home settings.

What kinds of questions will be asked?

Over the course of the study, we will be asking questions about a number of variables known to have an important relationship with stress.

Health: We will be including measures of physical and mental health, as well as daily sleep quality, in order to examine the full impact of work stress on wellbeing.

Burnout: This syndrome involves exhaustion and disinterest in one’s job. Burnout can have serious implications for physical and mental health. In the current study, we will be examining indicators of burnout on a daily basis.

Post-Traumatic Stress: Traumatic levels of work stress can lead to this anxiety disorder, which can seriously impair emotional and social functioning both on and off the job. Like burnout, we will be examining indicators of post-traumatic stress, such as sleep disturbance and depression, on a daily basis.

Job Characteristics: We will also be asking questions about your job, including how satisfied you are with a number of work-related factors.

Social Support & Conflict: Social support is key to stress reduction and overall health maintenance. We are interested in examining important social factors at work and at home. Likewise, conflict at work can significantly contribute to stress. Relations with co-workers, hospital staff, allied agencies, and other groups will be of interest.

Relationship Dynamics: Because social support is a key factor in overall health, the level of satisfaction with important people is equally important. We will be asking questions about satisfaction and adjustment with spouses and significant others (where applicable) as well as the paramedic’s primary work partner.

In order to be eligible to participate, paramedics must:

1. Be currently employed as a paramedic in Canada.

2. Have a cohabitating spouse or romantic partner who is also interested in participating. (Exception: If your work partner and his/her spouse are interested in participating, you may still participate.)

3. Be working a block of 4 shifts with AT LEAST 1 day off before and AT LEAST 2 days off after in the near future. This means any rotation which contains 4-shift blocks will work!

OPTIONAL: If your work partner is also interested in participating during the same period of time, we would be happy to include her/him as well.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you don't have a spouse or romantic partner who is interested in participating, you MAY still participate if your work partner has an interested spouse.

All participants, including both partnered paramedics and any involved spouses/romantic partners of paramedics, will receive a $40 gift card to either Chapters or Starbucks for participating in this study. This is our way of thanking all participants for their time in this study.

Total time commitment: 2 hours

If interested, participation of spouses/romantic partners of paramedics would involve:

• Phase 1: Completing a short series of online questionnaires about some basic information, including employment and health. These questionnaires will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. A 10-minute phone call with a member of our research team will also be scheduled at this time.

• Phase 2: Responding to a brief 5-minute online questionnaire (called a "daily diary") twice a day for 1 week. These questions will be completed once upon waking and once before going to bed. Daily questions will ask important questions about sleep quality, stress, coping, and social conflict & support. These daily questions must be answered during the same period of time that the relative paramedic is also participating.

In order to facilitate ease and efficiency of daily responding, participants may complete these daily questions online from the comfort of their homes.

• Phase 3: Completing a second series of short questionnaires aimed at measuring important aspects of health and well-being, such as burnout and post-traumatic stress (approx. 30 minutes). These questionnairess will be available online for your convenience.

What kinds of questions will be asked?

Over the course of the study, we will be asking questions about a number of variables known to have an important relationship with stress.

Health: We will be including measures of physical and mental health, as well as daily sleep quality, in order to examine the full impact of stress on wellbeing.

Social Support & Conflict: Social support is key to stress reduction and overall health maintenance. We are interested in examining important social factors at home.

Relationship Dynamics: Because social support is a key factor in overall health, the level of satisfaction with important people is equally important. We will be asking questions about satisfaction and adjustment with spouses and significant others (where applicable).

In order to be eligible to participate, spouses must:

1. Be currently involved in a romantic relationship (married, dating, or otherwise) with a paramedic who is also participating in the study.

2. Be cohabitating with the participating paramedic at the time of the study.

All participants, including both partnered paramedics and any involved spouses/romantic partners of paramedics, will receive a $40 gift card to either Chapters or Starbucks for participating in this study. This is our way of thanking all participants for their time in this study.

Interested paramedics will be asked about potential spousal interest following their initial contact.

If you are a spouse of a participating paramedic, please feel free to contact us for more information or sign up for the study using the link below. Your participation would offer an invaluable contribution to our understanding of how work stress interacts with relationships at home.