One of MHealthy’s strategic goals is to support the university’s mission through research, education and service partnerships that contribute to the evidence regarding how effective health and well-being programs can make a difference in improving people’s lives. The following are publications which MHealthy has led and/or contributed to through collaborations with researchers and industry leaders. 

Scientific Research Manuscripts

Social Determinants of Health

• Jenkins, K. R., Stiehl, E., Sherman, B. W., & Bales, S. L. (2022). Supporting employee health at work: How perceptions differ across wage category. American Journal of Health Promotion: AJHP, 36(1), 169–174. doi: 10.1177/08901171211024416

• Stiehl, E., Bales, S. L., Jenkins, K. R., & Sherman, B. W. (2022). Unique barriers to workplace health promotion programs by wage category: A qualitative assessment of secondary data. American Journal of Health Promotion: AJHP, 36(5), 843–852. doi: 10.1177/08901171211069546

• Jenkins, K.R., & Ofstedal, M.B.  (2014) The impact of socioeconomic characteristics on cardiovascular risk factors among middle- aged and older men and women.  Women & Health, 54(1), 15-34.  

Absenteeism and Turnover

• Rahrig Jenkins, K., Stiehl, E., Bales, S., & Sherman, B. (2022). Employee sources of stress and their associations with absenteeism: Differences by wage category. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 64(7), 614–620. doi:  10.1097/JOM.0000000000002546. View this video featuring Kristi Rahrig Jenkins, PhD, MHealthy's Research Program Manager, presenting findings from this paper at the 2023 HERO Forum.

• Jenkins, K. R. (2024). Wellness program participation and its association with illness-related absenteeism and turnover: One university’s story. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 66(3), 212-215. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003022

• Jenkins, K. R., Stiehl, E., Franklin, J., & Sherman, B. (2024). The association of employee’s unmet social needs and self-reported injury and illness related absenteeism. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 66(12), 1046-1050. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003239

• Jenkins, K.R., & Sherman, B.W. (2020). Wellness program nonparticipation and its association with employee turnover. American Journal of Health Promotion, 34(5), 559-562.

• Jenkins, K.R. (2014). How valid are self-reports of illness related absence: Evidence from a university employee health management program.  Population Health Management, 17(4), 211-217. 

Culture of Health and Wellness Program Participation and Assessment

• Jenkins, K. R., & Bales, S. L. (2023). Wellness program participation and its association with reduction in health risks and health care costs: One university's story. American Journal of Health Promotion: AJHP, 37(3), 375–380. doi: 10.1177/08901171221127987

• Imboden M., Castle, P., Johnson, S., Jenkins, K. R., Pitts, J., Grossmeier, J., Mangen, D., Mason, S., & Steven N. (2020). Development and validity of a workplace health promotion best practices assessment. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 62(1), 18-24.

• Grossmeier, J., Castle, P., Pitts, J., Saringer, C., Jenkins, K. R., Imboden M., Mangen, D., Johnson, S., Steven N., & Mason, S. (2020). Workplace well-being factors that predict employee participation, health and medical cost impact, and perceived support. American Journal of Health Promotion, 34(4), 349-358.

• Beck. A. J., Hirth, R. A., Jenkins, K. R., Sleeman, K. K., & Zhang, W. (2016). Factors associated with participation in a university worksite wellness program. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 51(1), 1-11.

• Jenkins, K. R., Fakhoury, N., Marzec, M., & Harlow-Rosentraub, K. (2015). Perceptions of a culture of health: Implications for communications and programming. Health Promotion Practice, 16(6), 796-804. 

Chronic Conditions

• Geisser, M. E., Robinson, M. E., Miller, Q. L., & Bade, S. (2003). Psychosocial factors and functional capacity evaluation among persons with chronic pain. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 13(4), 259-276.

• Kullgren, J. T., Knaus, M., Jenkins, K. R., & Heisler, M.  (2016). Mixed methods study of engagement in behaviors to prevent type 2 diabetes among employees with pre-diabetes. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, 4(1), e000212.

Health Behaviors

• Jenkins, K. R., Fakhoury N., Richardson C. R., Segar M., Krupka E., & Kullgren J. (2018). Characterizing employees’ preferences for incentives for healthy behaviors: Examples to improve interest in wellness programs. Health Promotion Practice, 20(6), 880-889.

• Buis, L. R., Poulton, T. A., Holleman, R. G., Sen, A., Resnick, P .J., Goodrich, D. E., Palma-Davis, L., & Richardson, C. R. (2009). Evaluating Active U: An internet-mediated physical activity program. BCM Public Health, 9(1), 331.

• Jenkins, K. R., Fakhoury, N., Matthias Gray, L., Herzog-Mourad, T., Williams, D., & Winfield, R.  (2014). Lessons for Sustainability: Perceptions of a Smoke-Free Campus Initiative.  Health Behavior and Policy Review, 1(5), 420.

Stress, Burnout, and Mental Well-being

• Stratton, K. J., Finta, M. K., Scicluna, V., Uttal, S., & Perlman, R. L. (2025). Reducing barriers to well-being and mental health resources through a pilot opt-out check-in program for medical residents. Health Promotion Practice, 15248399251337027. 

• Putnam, E. M., Stratton, K. J., Lehrian, L. E., Rochlen, L. R., & Zisblatt, L. (2023). A simulation workshop to introduce coping skills. The Clinical Teacher, e13607. 

• Putnam, E. M., Stratton, K. J., Lehrian, L. E., Hinds, S., Rochlen, L. R., & Zisblatt, L. (2025). What makes anesthesiology residency so stressful? A 30-day snapshot. The Journal of Education in Perioperative Medicine, 27(3), E752.

• Burns, C. J., Marzoughi, M., Sinko, L., Saddawi-Konefka, D., Stratton, K., Sigakis, M., Wixson, M., Simmons, S., Ramirez, M., Kheterpal, S., & Was, A. (2025). “The pain and suffering are just too great for me to manage”: A qualitative study of emotional distress among anesthesiologists after challenging clinical events. Anesthesiology, 143(5), 1349. 

• Calarco, M. M., & Stratton, K. J. (2023). The impact of transcendental meditation: reducing burnout and enhancing well-being in frontline healthcare clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 28(3).

Professional Practice Publications

• Jenkins, K. R. (2026). Belonging: Definitions and measurement tools. American Journal of Health Promotion. doi:10.1177/08901171261477848 

• Jenkins, K. R. (2025). Measuring and evaluating spirituality in the workplace. American Journal of Health Promotion, 39(2), 363-365. doi:10.1177/08901171241299608e

• Jenkins, K., Schmidt, K., & Weigl, A. (2020). Addressing social determinants of health–a large employer perspective. American Journal of Health Promotion : AJHP, 34(2), 224-226. doi:10.1177/0890117119896122e

• Jenkins, K.R. (2020). Communicating a wellness program’s value: The development of a dashboard for a large university with an academic medical center. American Journal of Health Promotion, 34(4), 451-455.

• Anderson, D. R., Carter, M., Jenkins, K. R., Karjalainen, T., & Whitmer, R. W. (2012). Toward an employee health management research agenda: What are the research priorities?  American Journal of Health Promotion, 26(6), 7-9.  

• Bade, S. (2010). Cognitive executive functions and work: Advancing from job jeopardy to success following a brain aneurysm. Work, 36(4), 389-398.

• Bade, S., & Eckert, J. (2008). Occupational therapists' critical value in work rehabilitation and ergonomics. Work, 31(1), 101-111.

• Bade, S., & Eckert, J. (2008). Occupational therapists' expertise in work rehabilitation and ergonomics. Work, 31(1), 1-3.

• Roemer, E. C., Goetzel, R. Z., Davis, M. F., Zhang, Y., Kent, K. B., Harter, J., McGee, E. O., Troester, J. M., Hilton, L., Stratton, K. J., & MacKenzie, E. J. (2024). Proceedings from a national summit on workplace mental health and well-being: A focus on the graduate academic environment. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 66(12), 970-977. 

• Stratton, K. J., & Stannard, C. M. (2025). Pause, presence, and positive community: Supporting spiritual well-being in the university workplace. American Journal of Health Promotion, 39(2), 358-363.