In this research, translation, and application lab, we focus on understanding and developing healthy and optimal work environments and experiences for people in a wide variety of occupations. A strong emphasis is placed on identifying and understanding individual differences and associated factors that affect personal work-related experiences and more general health and well-being. A related area of interest is in the interaction between person and work-environment features.

Since 2007, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with a large number of talented students on many projects in this lab, including the ones listed below. Reviewing these will provide a sense of the variety of work that is done through the H.O.W. lab. The hyperlinks below will take you directly to the final thesis manuscripts associated with any of these projects that were linked to thesis efforts (all hosted through the UTC Scholar system). Note that just about all of these projects have also been presented in a refereed/peer-reviewed conference setting and/or published in a journal article or book chapter form (full details available in my CV):

Graduate student theses:

Vlass, S. (2023). Work-nonwork demands analysis and prioritization self-assessment. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. [Graduate SEARCH Award winner]

Vosika, E. (2023). Identifying personal energy and recovery patterns and their impact on well-being. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. [Graduate SEARCH Award winner]

deSa, D. (2022). The adaptation and innovation model of organizational resilience: The AIR model. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Nixon, E. (2020). Quality assessment of preferred work recovery activities: Guidance for recovering from work-related demands. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. [supported by UTC research grant] 

Johnson, L. F. (2019). Do workplace aesthetics matter? Testing the moderating effects of need for aesthetics and general mindfulness. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. [Graduate SEARCH Award winner] 

Terry, D. (2018). A noble task: Work Stress, Sense of Coherence, and work-nonwork conflict among Christian clergy. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. [Graduate Provost Student Research Award winner]

• See also this associated publication: Terry, D. & Cunningham, C. J. L. (2020). Some rest for the weary? A qualitative analysis of clergy methods for managing demands. Journal of Religion and Health. http://10.1007/s10943-020-01086-5 

• See also this associated publication: Terry, D., & Cunningham, C. J. L. (2020). The sacred and stressed: testing a model of clergy health. Journal of Religion and Health, 59, 1541-1566. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00920-9. 

Dirghalli, J. (2018). Quantifying and qualifying the links that bind: A conceptual map of the workplace experience. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. [Graduate Provost Student Research Award winner]

Rodriguez, S. (2017). Examining the predictive ability of the selection method used during hire on subsequent employee engagement. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Brady, L. (2017). The role of Sense of Coherence in stressor appraisal. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. [Graduate Provost Student Research Award winner]

Keating, A. (2016). Active or passive? An examination of the relationship between the valence of work experiences and choice of recovery strategy. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Littrell, S. (2016). Waiting for the right place and right time: Belief content correlates of situational procrastination. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Harste, R. (2016). Socializing to recover from work stress: The benefits of acting extraverted. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Hudson, C. (2016). Anticipated work-nonwork balance and conflict as predictors of job choice: Identity salience as moderator. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Kearns, K. (2016). Authoritative parenting and transformational leadership: An example of family-to-work enrichment. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Vijayakumar, P. (2015). Work-life balance, breaks, and identity salience in Indian expatriates. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. [Graduate Provost Student Research Award winner]

• See also this associated publication: Vijayakumar, P. B., & Cunningham, C. J. L. (2019). Expatriates’ identity salience, work stressors, and work-nonwork conflict: Moderating role of gender and marital status. Thunderbird International Business Review, 61, 375-386. doi: 10.1002/tie.21986 

• See also this associated publication: Vijayakumar, P. B., & Cunningham, C. J. L. (2016). Cross-cultural adjustment and expatriation motives among Indian expatriates. Journal of Global Mobility, 4(3), 326-344. doi: 10.1108/JGM-05-2016-0019 

• See also this working paper: Vijayakumar, P. B., & Cunningham, C. J. L. (2016). Impact of spousal work restrictions and number of dependents on expatriates’ work life and overall life satisfaction. Industrial and Organizational Psychology Translational Research and Working Papers. https://scholar.utc.edu/iopsy/1  

Cooper, A. (2014). Exploring the use of non-cognitive factors in predicting college academic outcomes. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. [Graduate Provost Student Research Award winner]

Benitez, L. (2013). Personal factors that influence meaning and prioritization in work-nonwork roles. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Huskey, W. (2013). A resource management perspective on work design. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Manier, A. (2013). Understanding organizational wellness: The impact of perceived organizational support, motivation, and barriers on the effectiveness of wellness programs. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. [Graduate Provost Student Research Award winner]

Clancy, S. (2012). Evaluating the sustained psychological benefits of on-site employee health programs. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Cranley, N. (2012). Understanding time use, stress, and recovery among medical residents. Unpublished master’s thesis. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. [Graduate Provost Student Research Award winner]

• See also this associated publication: Cranley, N. M., Cunningham, C. J. L., & Panda, M. (2015). Understanding time use, stress and recovery practices among early career physicians: an exploratory study. Psychology, Health & Medicine. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2015.1061675

Smith, H. (2012). Testing “areas of worklife” as mediating factors in the relationship between nurse leadership, burnout, and engagement. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

• See also this associated publication: Lewis, H. S., & Cunningham, C. J. L. (2016). Linking nurse leadership and work characteristics to nurse burnout and engagement. Nursing Research, 65(1), 13-23. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000130

White, C. N. (2011). The influence of identity salience on cross-generational perspectives of work-life balance. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. 

Martin, S. (2011). Personal and work culture factors predicting ATOD use among young workers. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. 

Terlecki, S. (2011). Studying the indirect effects of workplace incivility. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Morelli, N. (2010). Furthering Conservation of Resources theory: How personal values influence our perception of resources. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

• See also this associated publication: Morelli, N., & Cunningham, C. J. L. (2012). Not All Resources Are Created Equal: COR Theory, Values, and Stress. The Journal of Psychology: International & Applied, 146(4), 393-415. doi: 10.1080/00223980.2011.650734

Cheng, J.-M. (2009). Modeling the relationships among stressors, Big Five personality traits, and strains within a sample of Chinese respondents. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Hegwood, E. (2009). Examining the psycho-social barriers to company-sponsored fitness center usage. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Hopkins, J. (2009). Improving self-efficacy and proactive behavior tendencies with off-site, adventure-based team-building. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

• See also this associated publication: Hopkins, J. H., & Cunningham, C. J. L. (2015). Examining the efficacy of outdoor adventure training. In B. J. O’Leary, B. W. Weathington, C. J. L. Cunningham, and M. Biderman (Eds.) Trends in Training (pp. 37-59). Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Owens, J. (2009). Further examination of the relationship between proactive personality and career success. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Patel, S. (2009). Work-family balance and religion: A resource-based perspective. Unpublished master’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

• See also this associated publication: Patel, S. P., & Cunningham, C. J. L. (2012). Religion, resources, and work-family balance. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 15(4), 389-401. doi: 10.1080/13674676.2011.577765 

Undergraduate honors theses:

Levine, M. (2013). Understanding perceived career success among ESL teachers. Unpublished undergraduate honor’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN.

Pegues, D. (2009). Impact of recruitment messages on minority applicant self-efficacy and intentions to pursue. Unpublished undergraduate honor’s thesis, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN. [Undergraduate Provost Student Research Award winner]