You and your child are being asked to participate in a research study. Before you give your consent to volunteer, it is important that you read the following information and ask as many questions as necessary to be sure you understand what you and your child will be asked to do.

Investigators: Dr. Shulamit Ritblatt, Ph.D. Department of Child and Family Development, San Diego State University
Lauren Savage, B.A. Psychology Department, San Diego State University
Anissa York, B.A. Psychology Department, San Diego State University

Purpose of the Study: This study looks at changing family trends, specifically as it relates to the effect of one parent's frequent work-related absence (e.g. due to military deployment, business trips) on the family. It seeks to understand the differences in the family dynamics of commuting families and non-commuting families. Commuting families (families with one member who travels at least 10 times per calendar year or is absent from the family system for at least a one-month period of time per year for the purposes of work) and non-commuting families are being recruited. Approximately 400 subjects in commuter families, including the commuter spouse, his/her respective partners and children, will be recruited to complete our survey. An additional 400 subjects in non-commuter families, including spouses and children, will also be recruited to complete our survey. Subjects will range in age from mid-childhood to late adulthood.

Description of the Study: To determine if you are eligible to participate, you will be asked how frequently you or your spouse/romantic partner is absent from the home. If you or your spouse/romantic partner travels for the minimum time described in the previous paragraph, your family qualifies to complete the commuter family questionnaire and interview.

If you agree to participate in this study you and your family will be asked to complete a questionnaire and participate in an interview. You and your family can choose to participate in both the questionnaire and the interview or just the questionnaire, it is up to you.

•The questionnaire will take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete, and will include questions on the nature of you and your partner's work, your opinions regarding gender role perceptions, stress levels, communication between you and your partner, relationship satisfaction, conflict resolution, and your parent-child relationship (if applicable). This questionnaire can be completed in a private location of your choosing or online.
•You will also be asked to participate in an interview. You will be asked to discuss your experiences having a commuter family with a trained interviewer. For example, you will be asked about your role as a spouse and a parent and your relationship concerns and difficulties. The interview will be conducted at a private location which is most comfortable for you and will take approximately 30 minutes. The interview will be recorded using an audiotape recorder.

Your child will also be asked to complete a questionnaire and participate in an interview.
• The questionnaire will take about 20 minutes to complete, and will ask questions about how he/she feels about you and your partner’s jobs and how he/she feels when the commuting parent is gone. Your child may take the questionnaire at a location which is most comfortable for him/her.
• Your child will also be asked to participate in an interview which will take about 30 minutes, and will be recorded using an audiotape recorder. He/She will be asked questions about how he/she feels when the commuting parent is gone and who he/she talks to about school and home-related problems. This interview will take place at a location agreed upon by you, the child, and the interviewer, with efforts to make sure the location is most comfortable for the child.

Risks or Discomforts: You may experience emotional discomfort in considering your emotional reactions to you or your partner’s commute, work, relationship, or relationship with your child. Your child may feel uncomfortable answering questions about his/her feelings. You or your child may choose to skip over any question(s) which make you feel uncomfortable. You or your child are also free to discontinue participation, either temporarily or permanently. We are required by law to report any harmful activities that are reported to us.

Benefits of the Study: This survey may stimulate conversation between you and your partner and/or between you and your children regarding feelings of the commuting member’s travel or work. This research may also encourage employers to consider the needs of the commuter’s/worker’s family lifestyle in developing the requirements and benefits of the commuting/working job position, as well as provide society with a greater understanding of the demands of the commuting/working spouse and the impact of this commute/work on his/her family members. I cannot guarantee, however, that you will receive any benefits from participating in this study.

Confidentiality: No personally identifiable information will be collected or referenced in the publication. You will create a code that links all of your family members to each other. No records of codes linking data to you will be maintained. All data gathered including audiotapes will be stored in a locked office, to which only members of the research team have access. The interview will be recorded using an audiotape recorder then transcribed. All personal information will be kept only until the completion of the study. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent allowed by law. As mandated reporters, we are required to report any abuse or harm to the appropriate authorities.

Incentives to Participate: You or your child will not be paid to participate in this study. There are no costs to you or your child for participating in this study.

Voluntary Nature of Participation: Participation in this study is voluntary. Your choice of whether or not to participate will not influence your future relations with San Diego State University, nor will it affect your relationship with your current job. If you decide to participate, you are free to withdraw your consent and to stop your participation at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are allowed.

Questions about the Study: If you have any questions about the research now, please ask. If you have questions later about the research, you may contact Dr. Shulamit Ritblatt (telephone: (619) 594-6501; email: ritblatt@mail.sdsu.edu). You may also contact Graduate Research Assistants Lauren Savage (email: lauren.k.savage@gmail.com) or Anissa York (email: york@rohan.sdsu.edu).

If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in this study, you may contact the Institutional Review Board at San Diego State University (telephone:619-594-6622; email: irb@mail.sdsu.edu).