Christine BergljottsdotterAssociate Professor
About me
I am an associate professor, researcher, and senior lecturer in psychology. I teach and write broadly about working life, health, sustainable leadership, leader transformation, and mindfulness/compassion-based interventions in organizations. These areas connect to the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals: health and well-being, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, gender equality, sustainable cities and communities.
I am also a certified mindfulness instructor, and a certified leadership development facilitator based on an emerging ‘inside and out’ leadership approach. This approach acknowledges that leaders need to turn inwards and develop reflection, self-awareness, compassion, creativity, and collaboration skills in order to lead themselves and others in a sustainable way in today’s increasingly complex environment and related challenges.
Bio
- Associate professor of Psychology, Stockholm University 2022–
- Lecturer in work- and organizational psychology, Stockholm University 2019–
- Researcher, Stockholm University, 2013–2019
- Epidemiologist, National Board of Health and Welfare, 2012–2013
- Post-doc, FAS Centre for Excellence, Stockholm University, 2010–2011
- Researcher and lecturer, Stockholm University, 2008–2010
- Researcher and lecturer, Mälardalen University, 2007–2008
- Researcher, Swedish Institute for Working Life, 2004–2006
- PhD in Psychology, Stockholm University, 2004
Research Areas
Sustainable leadership, new ways of working/boundaryless work, resilience, sustainability and well-being, sustainable working life participation, inner development goals, transformational skills, interplay between personal development, inner transformation, and outer sustainability.
Research
My research focus on sustainability in a rapidly changing world of work. My work examines, amongst other things, a) prerequisites, needs, and hindrances for organizational leaders' sustainability, b) new ways of working practices as related to both leader and employee work-nonwork boundary management, recovery from work, work-life balance/conflict, well-being, stress and health, c) leadership practices supporting employee work-nonwork boundary management, d) the role of contemplative approaches, such as mindfulness and compassion, to counter stress and promote sustainable development across individual, workplace, and organizational levels.
Research projects
- Implications of the massive shift towards telework during the COVID-19 pandemic for worklife balance, job quality and health, 2021-2024, financed by FORTE.
- Combining informal caregiving and paid work: effects on labour force participation, 2021-2024, financed by FORTE.
- SKICOM - a sustainable KI community, 2022-2024, Research & Development project at Karolinska Institutet (KI).
- Moving to New MDU - a follow-up study of the relocation to a new campus at Mälardalen University (MDU), 2019-2022, Research & Development project at MDU.
- Social determinants of health and aging: occupational and contextual factors in Sweden and Brazil, 2018-2024, financed by STINT.
- New ways to live and work in relation to health and well-being, 2016-2018, financed by Vinnova.
- Mindful leadership intervention in boundaryless, expert work, 2015-2018, sub-project within the Swedish part of the Nordic collaboration-project WOW (Working hours, health, well-being, and participation into working life), financed by NordForsk.
- Sustainable leadership in a changing world of work, 2014-2017, financed by AFA.
- Working conditions among the self-employed in Sweden - the role of business, gender, and etnicity, 2013-2016, financed by FORTE.
- Social determinants of health - aspects of time and space, 2013-2017, financed by STINT.
- A balancing act - a study on the construction of boundaries between and within work and nonwork, 2012-2015, financed by AFA.
- Boundaryless possibilities or boundless demands - a study on the mechanisms between un-regulated working conditions and health, 2008-2011, financed by FORTE.
- Return to work after long-term sick-leave through job change - a qualitative, follow-up study, 2004-2007, financed by Vinnova.
- Boundaryless work - new ways of working and individual strategies, 2005-2006, financed by FORTE.
- On the role of early biological maturation for stress and health among adult women, 2002-2004, financed by the Swedish Research Council.
Collaboration
Selected national and international collaboration:
ELSA Brasil - a longitudinal cohort study about adults' health, 2013–
Academy of Health and Welfare, Mälardalen University, 2013–
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2016–
Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, 2014–
Department of Management and Organization, Stockholm School of Economics (ESS), 2019–2020.
Department of Strategic Human Resource Management, Nyenrode Business University, Netherlands, 2014–2021.
Department of Business and Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University, Netherlands, 2016–2017.
Scandinavian Cortisol Network, 2009–2012.
Research communication and media
I have an active role in communicating research and collaborate with the surrounding society within the overarching framework of a sustainable working life. As such, I participate in a wide variety of events, conferences, committees, and discussion groups. Moreover, I am active in developing, implementing, and participating in different educational programs, courses, and intervention programs with the common aim to contribute to the development of a sustainable working life through increasing knowledge and implementation of scientifically based approaches and tools within work organizations.
Selected communication- and collaboration assignments/partners:
Swedish Agency for Government Employers (Arbetsgivarverket), The Central Government Social Partner's Council (Partsrådet), Prevent, A Healthy Working Life (Sunt Arbetsliv), Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), European Social Fund, Stora Enso, Ericsson, Eurocadres, National Board for Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), Volvo Cars.
Selected media coverage:
www.dn.se/insidan/psykologer-om-att-bo-i-kollektiv-det-ar-sunt-med-konflikter/
chef.se/ny-studie-sjalvledarskap-ger-okat-valmaende/
www.dn.se/debatt/societal-challenges-require-investments-in-adult-development/
www.svd.se/de-ska-losa-gatan-bakom-livspusslet
www.svensktnaringsliv.se (PDF)
sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=1637&artikel=6455118
www.lakartidningen.se/Opinion/Signerat/2013/09/Granslosa-arbeten-kraver-sjalvstyre-och-tydlighet/
Teaching
I am currently supervising students, and is a course coordinator and teacher at the 5-year psychologist program. Areas of teaching include:
- Group dynamics and team development
- Work- and organizational psychology
- Consultative organizational work in theory and practice
Selected previous teaching:
- Global Challenges for the Makers of the Future at the Bachelor program in Business and Economics at Stockholm School of Economics (SSE)
- Public Health from a Gender Perspective at the Public Health Program, Department of Social Medicine and Public Health, Sahlgrenska akademin, Gothenburg University
- Identity and Gender in and as Work Organization at the Master program in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University
- Social and Behavioural Science in Working Life, Department of Social and Behavioural Science, Mälardalen University
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
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. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WyWBFZt1AF2kqZh6zgme6VeGglEQzUfI/view
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 payed 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
Conference presentations
Inner Development Goals Summit, Stockholm, Sweden. 2022. Social sustainability: From personal to political. Inter-linking inner transformation and outer sustainability - current research and needed future directions. Enhancing social and individual sustainability in urban co-living; Mindfulness practice improves managers’ job demands-resources, psychological detachment, work-nonwork boundary control, and work-life balance – A randomized controlled trial. Oral presentation.
CSS (Centre for Social Sustainability, Karolinska Institutet) Network Meeting on Social Sustainability: Stockholm, Sweden. 2020. Enhancing social and individual sustainability in urban co-living. Oral presentation.
Working for the greater good: EAWOP, Turin, Italy. 2019. Perceptions of boundary control mitigate (in)congruence between preferred and enacted work-nonwork boundaries and work-life conflict. Oral presentation.
Working for the greater good: EAWOP, Turin, Italy. 2019. Enhancing sustainable leadership: Long-term effects of a mindfulness intervention on organizational leaders’ psychological detachment, recovery and health. Oral presentation.
6th WINC Symposium on Working Hours and Health in the Nordic Countries: Copenhagen, Denmark. 2019. Enhancing sustainable leadership: Long-term effects of a mindfulness intervention on organizational leaders’ psychological detachment, recovery and health. Poster.
Social determinants of health and aging: occupational and contextual factors in Sweden and Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2019. Perceptions of boundary control mitigate (in)congruence between preferred and enacted work-nonwork boundaries and work-life conflict. Oral presentation.
Social inequalities of health in Sweden and Brazil – aspects of time and space: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2017. Sustainable leadership in a changing working life – The role of self-compassion. Oral presentation.
CoPassion, Helsinki, Finland. 2016. Sustainable leadership in a changing working life. Oral presentation.
22nd International Symposium on Shiftwork and Working Time: Elsinore, Denmark. 2015. Boundaryless work, psychological detachment and sleep: Does ”working anytime-anywhere” equal ”always being on”? Oral presentation.
Changing Work and Family Relationships in a Global Economy: New York, USA. 2014. Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN). Inter-domain transitions and work-life balance among full-time employed professionals: The potential moderating roles of desire for segmentation and boundary control. Oral presentation.
Reimagining, Rethinking, Reshaping: Organizational Scholarship in Unsettled Times: Rotterdam, Nederländerna. 2014. European Group of Organization Studies (EGOS). Inter-domain transitions and work-life balance among full-time employed professionals: The potential moderating roles of desire for segmentation and boundary control. Oral presentation.
From chronobiology to everyday life: Bahia, Brazil. 2013. Working Time Society. On the interrelationships between work hours, time-spatial flexibility, switching off, sleep, recovery and health among New Employees in knowledge intense, boundaryless work in Sweden. Oral presentation.
Stockholm Stress Centre, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 2013. Return to work after long-term sick-leave: A follow-up study. Oral presentation.
The Future World of Work: EAWOP, Muenster, Tyskland. 2013. Boundary management strategies and work-life balance in knowledge intense, flexible work. Oral presentation.
Arbetslivets föränderlighet – Individ, organisations- och metodperspektiv. FALF, Stockholm, Sweden. 2013. Boundary management strategies and work-life balance in knowledge intense, flexible work. Oral presentation.
Women, Work and Health: New Dehli, Indien. 2005. Symptom-reporting and self-rated health among women in mid-life: The role of work characteristics and family responsibilities. Oral presentation.
The Second ICOH International Conference on Psychosocial Factors at Work: Okayama, Japan. 2005. What´s at the point of no return? A qualitative study of long-term sick-leave and work-place mobility. Oral presentation.
Eighth International Congress of Behavioral Medicine: Mainz, Tyskland. 2004. Medically unexplained symptoms in women as related to physiological stress responses. Oral presentation.
17th Conference of the European Health Psychology Society: Kos, Grekland. 2003. Symptom development and timing of menarche: A longitudinal study. Poster.
Fifth Annual Institute on Developmental Science: Penn State, USA. 2002. Symptom development and timing of menarche: A longitudinal study. Poster.
Seventh International Congress of Behavioral Medicine: Helsinki, Finland. 2002. Self- and physician-rated general health in relation to symptoms and diseases among women. Poster.
Fourth Annual Institute on Developmental Science: Jyväskylä, Finland, 2001.
Second Annual Institute on Developmental Science: Stockholm, Sweden, 1999.
