̽»¨¾«Ñ¡

Sustainable work & occupational safety and health – Emma Brulin's research group

The research group investigates 1) organizational and individual risk and protective factors in the psychosocial work environment, 2) effects of shift and night work, and 3) symptom development and rehabilitation in stress-related ill health. We have a particular focus on employees within healthcare and how the work environment and health of the personnel affect the quality and safety of healthcare.

Part of the:

The healthcare system faces significant challenges as the population increases and ages, while healthcare resources gradually decrease. To cope with these challenges, healthcare services must establish a sustainable work environment where employees maintain good health, remain in their profession, and provide quality-assured care. To create a sustainable and healthy healthcare system, factors causing and perpetuating ill health among different occupational groups within healthcare need to be identified and addressed.

Projects

Organizational and Individual Risk and Protective Factors in the Psychosocial Work Environment

Healthcare employees work within a complex organization where individual, interpersonal, organizational, political, and societal factors directly or indirectly affect employees. Much of the research conducted so far has almost exclusively focused on the relationship at the individual level, i.e., between psychosocial working conditions and work-related well-being. Organizational-level demands have been systematically excluded despite studies indicating that organizational factors affect the relationships between demands/resources and health at the individual level. In this project, we research the links between organizational factors and employee health and working conditions.

 

Effects of Shift and Night Work

Shift and night work are prerequisites for providing 24/7 care. They pose challenges for workers and entail risks of accidents, ill health, and sick leave. In this area, we deepen our understanding of how shift and night work lead to ill health and how schedules should be designed to reduce the risk of ill health.

 

Symptom Development and Rehabilitation in Stress-Related Ill Health

The prevalence of sick leave due to stress-related ill health is high among healthcare employees. To develop effective preventive measures, we are building better knowledge of symptom development in stress-related ill health and develop methods for early detection. We have also developed and are clinically testing a treatment method for returning to work after sick leave due to stress-related ill health.

 

Relationship between Staff Work Environment and Health and Quality and Safety in Healthcare

Poor working conditions, mental ill health, sick leave, and high turnover have many consequences, including loss of production and increased societal costs. These problems also lead to significant personal suffering for those affected and can directly impact patient care and healthcare provision. Therefore, in this project, we research the link between workplace issues, employee health, and Quality and Safety in Healthcare.

Mental illness and organisational and social work environment in the construction industry – what works in practice?

Mental illness is currently the leading cause of sick leave in Sweden and is becoming increasingly common in the construction industry as well, where high workload and time pressure are contributing factors. To address this growing problem, Emma Cedstrand, Ph.D. at ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, is leading a research project that aims to develop guidelines to improve the organisational and social work environment for both white-collar and blue-collar workers in the construction sector. The project is a collaboration between four large Swedish construction companies and the research group at KI. The project will begin with an observational study to map industry mental illness trends. After the first study, the research will focus on how work environment issues are handled in different construction projects within the four companies and how this work affects the employees' mental health. The goal is to identify guidelines that can contribute to a sustainable work environment and reduce mental illness in the industry. The project runs until September 2027.

Publications

All publications from group members

  • Article: SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE. 2025;379:118182
    Gevaert J; Mangot-Sala L; Almroth M; Badarin K; Elling DL; Jonsson E; Kvart S; Lundh F; O'Campo P; Pan K; Thern E; Bodin T
  • Article: SAFETY SCIENCE. 2025;187:106863
    Nilsson KH; Matilla-Santander N; Lee MK; Brulin E; Bodin T; Hakansta C
  • Journal article: BMJ OPEN. 2025;15(5):e097179
    Landstad BJ; Kvangarsnes M; Thunqvist E; Lofman B; Nygren A; Brulin E
  • Article: INJURY EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2025;12(1):29
    Thern E; Nevriana A; Davis L; Wegman DH; Wadensjo E; Kjellberg K; Bodin T; Elling DL
  • Article: BMJ OPEN. 2025;15(4):e090966
    Brulin E; Wilczek A; Ekberg K; Lidwall U; De Beer LT; Hadzibajramovic E; Landstad BJ; Nyberg A
  • Article: ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOLISM. 2025;60(3):agaf016
    Pelaez-Zuberbuhler J; Thern E; Karlsen HR; Innstrand ST; Christensen M; Landstad BJ; Elling DL; Sjostrom M; Brulin E
  • Preprint: RESEARCH SQUARE. 2025
    Blease C; Hagström J; Sanchez CG; Kharko A; McMillan B; Gaab J; Brulin E; Locher C; Hägglund M; Riggare S; Mandl K
  • Article: BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH. 2025;25(1):465
    Gynning BE; Sidoli EF; Blindow KJ; Cedstrand E; Sabbath EL; Brulin E
  • Article: ANNALS OF FAMILY MEDICINE. 2025;23(2):145-150
    Brulin E; Teoh K
  • Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING STUDIES. 2025;164:105017
    Nilsson T; Lashari A; Gustavsson P; Harma M; Bigert C; Bodin T; Maclachlan L; Norberg AL; Brulin E
  • Book chapter: TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. 2025;p. 149-165
    Landstad BJ; Kvangarsnes GH; Larsson S; Brulin E
  • Article: HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH. 2024;22(1):77
    Gynning BE; Karlsson E; Teoh K; Gustavsson P; Christiansen F; Brulin E
  • Review: JOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP. 2024;56(6):790-801
    Ahlstedt C; Moberg L; Brulin E; Nyberg A
  • Article: JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE AND TOXICOLOGY. 2024;19(1):42
    Christiansen F; Gynning BE; Lashari A; Zuberbuhler JP; Johansson G; Brulin E
  • Article: HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH. 2024;22(1):70
    Fernemark H; Karlsson N; Skagerstrom J; Seing I; Karlsson E; Brulin E; Nilsen P
  • Article: WORK AND STRESS. 2024;38(4):352-372
    de Lange AH; Teoh K; Fleuren B; Christensen M; Medisauskaite A; Lovseth LT; Solms L; Reig-Botella A; Brulin E; Innstrand ST; Lundmark R; van Dorssen P; Baathe F; Heijkants C; Furunes T; Correia I
  • Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF WORK ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH. 2024;50(7):519-526
    Gynning BE; Christiansen F; Lidwall U; Brulin E
  • Article: ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOLISM. 2024;59(6):agae077
    Thern E; Blindow KJ; Jonsson E; Brulin E; Landberg J; Bodin T; Elling DL
  • Article: JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE. 2024;12(9):2364-2371.e5
    Ekstrom S; Hernando-Rodriguez JC; Andersson N; Murley C; Arfuch VM; Merritt A-S; Janson C; Bodin T; Johansson G; Kull I
  • Article: OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE-OXFORD. 2024;74(5):355-363
    Christiansen F; Gynning BE; Lashari A; Johansson G; Brulin E