Areas of teaching include:

• Group dynamics
• Work- and organizational psychology
• Consultative organizational work in theory and practice

My research examines how to promote a sustainable working life in a rapidly changing world of work, with particular attention to the interplay between the demands and conditions of work- and private life and health, well-being, and work-life balance. A central area of my research concerns work-nonwork boundary management and the role of individual strategies and leadership in this context. Within the field of sustainable leadership, I also investigate the conditions that enable or hinder leaders’ own sustainability.

An overarching theme in my research is inner sustainability, focusing on how individuals understand themselves and relate to their roles as employees or leaders, and how they respond to the demands, conditions, and changes that shape working life. This includes research on contemplative practices and approaches, such as mindfulness and compassion, and their role in supporting individual sustainability. An important question is how these practices can be applied in everyday working life to foster greater awareness of one’s own reactions and possible courses of action, as well as of the role of one’s choices in interaction with the conditions and people around us.

A key premise is that inner and outer sustainability are interconnected and need to be understood in relation to one another. Individuals’ health and well-being, as well as their capacity to contribute to a sustainable working life, are shaped by organisational and societal conditions. This perspective connects to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly on good health and well-being, and decent work.

Doctoral thesis

Mellner, C. (2004). Women's subjective and objective health over time: The role of psychosocial conditions and physiological stress responses. Stockholm: Department of Psychology, Stockholm University.

Info in DiVA.

Publications

Peristera, P., Bergljottsdotter, C., & Leineweber, C. (2025). When home becomes the office: navigating challenges and embracing possibilities in telework in Sweden during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1516074

Simonsson, O., Bergljottsdotter, C., Narayanan, J., Fisher, S., Bristow, J., Ormston, R., & Chambers, R. (2023). Mindfulness in Politics: A Qualitative Study on Mindfulness Training in the UK Parliament. Mindfulness, 1–9. DOI: 10.1007/s12671-023-02156-x.

Mellner, C. (2023). Sustainable Leadership and Work-Nonwork Boundary Management in a Changing World of Work. In S. Bergum, P. Peters, & T. Vold (Eds.), Virtual Management and the New Normal, Springer, chapter 19, pp. 383–403.

Mellner, C., Dahlen, M., & Simonsson, O. (2022). Association between Lifetime Classic Psychedelic Use and Sick Leave in a Population-Based Sample. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(18), 11353. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811353. PMID: 36141631; PMCID: PMC9517576.

Andersson, C., Mellner, C., Lilliengren, P., Einhorn, S., Lindert Bergsten, K., Stenström, E., & Osika, W. (2022). Cultivating compassion and reducing stress and mental ill-health in employees – A randomized controlled study. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 748140. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.748140

Mellner, C., Osika, W., & Niemi, M. (2022). Mindfulness practice improves managers’ job demands-resources, psychological detachment, work-nonwork boundary control, and work-life balance – A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 14(4), 493–514. DOI: 10.1108/IJWHM-07-2021-0146

Mellner, C., Peters, P., Dragt, M., & Toivanen, S. (2021). Predicting work-life conflict: Types and levels of enacted and preferred work-nonwork boundary (in)congruence and perceived boundary control. Frontiers in Psychology, 15(12), 772537. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.772537

Mellner, C., Niemi, M., Pöllänen, E., & Osika, W. (2021). Enhancing social and individual sustainability in urban co-living. International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, 14(5), 1129–1144. DOI: 10.1108/IJHMA-09-2020-0117

Stengård, J., Mellner, C., Toivanen, S., & Nyberg, A. (2021). Gender differences in the work- and home spheres for teachers, and longitudinal associations with depressive symptoms in a Swedish cohort. Sex Roles, 86(4), 159–178. DOI: 10.1007/s11199-021-01261-2

Mellner, C. (2019). On the becoming of conscious co-creators. White paper. Ekskäret Foundation. Fulltext on Google Drive

Aronsson, G., & Mellner, C. (2019). Det gränslösa arbetet. In Å. Sandberg (Ed.), Arbete och välfärd. Ledning, personal och organisationsmodeller i Sverige. Stockholm: Studentlitteratur, pp. 451-464.

Mellner, C. (2018). Strategier, gränskontroll och ledarskap i gränslöst arbete. Gränslöst arbete. En forskarantologi om arbetsmiljöutmaningar i anknytning till ett gränslöst arbetsliv. Arbetsmiljöverket, 2018:1, pp. 37–46.

Mellner, C., & Aronsson, G. (2018). Hållbart ledarskap i komplexa organisationer och verksamheter. Socialmedicinsk Tidskrift, 2/2018, 18–26.

Toivanen, S., Härter Griep, R., Mellner, C., Nordenmark, M., Vinberg, S., & Eloranta, S. (2018). Hospitalization due to stroke and myocardial infarction in self-employed individuals and small business owners compared with paid employees in Sweden – a five-year follow-up study. Small Business Economics, 53, 343–354. DOI: 10.1007/s11187-018-0051-3

Mellner, C., Kecklund, G., Kompier, M.A.J., Sariaslan, A., & Aronsson, G. (2017). Boundaryless work, psychological detachment and sleep: Does working 'anytime - anywhere' equal employees are 'always on'? In J. de Leede (Ed.). New Ways of Working Practices: Antecedents and Outcomes. Advanced Series in Management, Vol. 16. Emerald, pp. 29–47. DOI: 10.1108/S1877-636120160000016003

Aronsson, G., & Mellner, C. (2016). Illegitima arbetsuppgifter och identitet – en introduktion. Arbetsmarknad och Arbetsliv, 22(3/4), 28–47.

Mellner, C. (2016). After-hours availability expectations, work-related smartphone use during leisure, and psychological detachment: The moderating role of boundary control. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 9(2), 146–164. DOI: 10.1108/IJWHM-07-2015-0050

Toivanen, S., Vinberg, S., Härter Griep, R., Mellner, C., & Eloranta, S. (2016). Mortality differences between self-employed and paid employees – A 5-year follow-up study of the working population in Sweden. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 73, 627–636. DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2015-103472

Mellner, C., Aronsson, G., & Kecklund, G. (2014). Boundary management preferences, boundary control and work-life balance among full-time employed professionals in knowledge-intensive, flexible work. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies, 4(4), 1–17. DOI: 10.19154/njwls.v4i4.4705

Toivanen, S., Mellner, C., & Vinberg, S. (2014). Self-employed persons in Sweden – Mortality differentials by industrial sector and enterprise legal form: A five-year follow-up study. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 58(1), 21–32. DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22387

Allvin, M., Mellner, C., Movitz, F., & Aronsson, G. (2013). The diffusion of flexibility: Estimating the incidence of low-regulated working conditions. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies, 3(3), 99–115. DOI: 10.19154/njwls.v3i3.3013

Allvin, M., Mellner, C., Movitz, F., & Aronsson, G. (2012). Den utbredda flexibiliteten. Ett försök att beräkna förekomsten av lågreglerade arbetsvillkor. Arbetsmarknad och Arbetsliv,18(1), 9–24.

Karlsson, B., Lindfors, P., Riva, R., Mellner, C., Theorell, T., & Lundberg, U. (2012). Salivary cortisol and psychosocial work factors. In M. Kristensen & U. Lundberg (Eds.), The role of saliva cortisol measurement in health and disease. Bentham Science Publishers, Vol. 4, pp. 43–66. DOI: 10.2174/97816080534211120101

Mellner, C., Aronsson, G., & Kecklund, G. (2012). Segmentering och integrering – om mäns och kvinnors gränssättningsstrategier i högkvalificerat arbete. Arbete och Hälsa, 2012:46(4). Göteborg, Göteborgs universitet.

Aronsson, G., Gustafsson, K., & Mellner, C. (2011). Sickness presenteeism, sickness absenteeism and self-rated health in the Swedish working population. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 4(3), 228–243. DOI: 10.1108/17538351111172590

Mellner, C., Astvik, W., & Aronsson, G. (2009). Vägar tillbaka - En uppföljningsstudie av psykologiska och praktiska förutsättningar för återgång i arbete efter långtidssjukskrivning med stöd av en arbetsgivarring. Arbete och Hälsa, 2009:4/3(10). Göteborg, Göteborgs universitet.

Aronsson, G., Gustafsson, K., & Mellner, C. (2009). Samband mellan sjuknärvaro, sjukfrånvaro och självskattad hälsa i den yrkesaktiva befolkningen. Arbete och Hälsa, 2009:43(3). Göteborg, Göteborgs universitet.

Mellner, C., Krantz, G., & Lundberg, U. (2006). Symptom reporting and self-rated health among women in mid-life: The role of work characteristics and family responsibilities. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 13(1), 1–7. DOI: 10.1207/s15327558ijbm1301_1

Astvik, W., Mellner, C., & Aronsson, G. (2006). På väg - En kvalitativ studie av långtidssjukskrivning, arbete och rörlighet. Arbete och Hälsa, nr 2006:3. Arbetslivsinstitutet.

Mellner, C., Krantz, G., & Lundberg, U. (2005). Medically unexplained symptoms in women as related to physiological stress responses. Stress & Health, 21, 45–52. DOI: 10.1002/smi.1037

Mellner, C., & Lundberg, U. (2003). Self- and physician-rated general health in relation to symptoms and diseases among women. Psychology, Health, & Medicine, 8, 123–135. DOI: 10.1080/1354850031000087500

El-Khouri, B. M., & Mellner, C. (2003). Symptom development and timing of menarche. A longitudinal study. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 13(1), 40–53. DOI: 10.1002/mpr.163