We conduct research in the areas of industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology and occupational health psychology (OHP) at Portland State University. Our group examines the interplay among the 3 primary domains of life: work, nonwork, and sleep. Much of the research in our lab focuses on solutions for improving employee sleep, given that deficient sleep is a major risk factor for long-term chronic illness and early mortality, workplace accidents and injuries, and poor relationship outcomes both within and outside of the home. However, we also have a strong orientation towards social justice, and often conduct research with workers who have traditionally been underrepresented, are vulnerable, and/or do not have access to the same health and safety protections that are typically afforded to working populations. An emerging area of investigation for us is to understand how experiences of diversity and equity (or lack thereof) in workplaces affects health and well-being. As a team of scientist-practitioners, we are committed to applying rigorous research in real-world organizations, working in collaboration with community partners to develop solutions that protect the health of diverse workers and their families. 

WHAT ARE OUR RESEARCH QUESTIONS? 

We have a number of ongoing projects in our lab that all focus on one aspect or another of the work-nonwork-sleep nexus. Some examples of the underlying research questions that guide our work are listed below.

1. How does workplace stress affect workers’ sleep and health?

2. How can supervisors better support workers’ nonwork life, sleep, and health?

3. How can vulnerable workers be better protected by supervisors, organizations, and policy? 

WHO DO WE DO RESEARCH WITH? 

We collaborate with a wide range of organizations and workers to conduct our research and implement solutions, as we believe in the importance of triangulating research findings across industries and occupational levels. We have a particular interest in working with diverse groups of employees involved in precarious employment settings, shiftwork, safety-sensitive operations, and unsafe and discriminatory workplaces. Our ongoing studies are taking place within healthcare, the gig economy, education, manufacturing, construction, and mining.

WHAT METHODS DO WE USE? 

We use a variety of research methods and designs. Most of our studies are conducted in organizational field settings with self-report surveys and objective measures of health (for example, actigraphic sleep). However, we also employ qualitative techniques like interviews and focus groups. We are currently involved in a number of intervention studies that utilize rigorous experimental designs in the field to evaluate the usefulness of training employees and supervisors on work-life and sleep issues.