Iwin on Research

peer-reviewed articles

Dr. Jennifer Swanberg is a national expert on work-family research. She has published research articles in nationally prestigious, peer-reviewed journals and we have archived some of her most recent work below. If you have any questions about these materials, please contact Dr. Swanberg.

recently published articles

Secret, M., & Swanberg, J. (2008). Work-Family Insight of Municipal Government Employees. Public Personnel Management, 37(2) 199-222.
This qualitative case study brings the work-family concerns of the municipal work force to the fore by sharing the insights employees in one city government have about their paid work and family experiences and about strategies that could create work environments that are more supportive of their multiple roles.

Swanberg, J. & Simmons, L. (2008). Quality Jobs in the New Millenium: Incorporating Flexible Work Options as a Strategy to Assist Working Families. Social Service Review, 82(1), 119‐147.
This study seeks to explore the model of job quality in relation to the employees’ self perceived physical health status. The article concludes that when demographic and other job quality variables are controlled, flexible work options, coworker support, and employment insecurity are major predictors of the employees’ self‐reported health status.

Swanberg, J., James, J., Werner, M., & McKechnie, S. (2008). Workplace flexibility for hourly lower‐wage employees: A strategic business practice within one national retail firm. The Psychologist Manger Journal, 11(1), 5‐29.
Using analysis of qualitative interviews, this study looks at the flexibility in work options offered to lower‐wage hourly positions. The positive and negative consequences the business encounters in offering flexible work options are also explored.

Perrucci, R., MacDermid, S., King, E., Tang, C., Brimeyer, T., Ramadoss, K., Kiser, S., & Swanberg, J. (2007). The significance of shift work: Current status and future directions. Journal of Economic and Family Issues.
This article offers a comprehensive literature review on the consequences of shift work on workers’ physical health, mental health/well being, and family life. This article also expands on future directions to be taken in regard to this subject.

Swanberg, J. & Logan, TK (2007). Intimate partner violence, employment, and the workplace: An interdisciplinary perspective. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 22(3), 263‐267.
In order to maximize partner violence victims’ economic security by reducing the risks associated with the negative effects of partner violence on women’s labor force participation and on workplaces, the first step is to clearly understand the consequences of intimate partner violence on female victims' employment and on employers. To this end, this special edition presents an interdisciplinary perspective on the intersections of intimate partner violence, women’s employment and workplaces.

Swanberg, J., Macke, C., & Logan, TK (2007). Working women making it work: Intimate partner violence, employment, and workplace support. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 22(3), 292‐311.
This article investigates whether there is an association between workplace disclosure of victimization and current employment status; and whether there is an association between receiving workplace support and current employment status among women who have disclosed victimization circumstances to someone at work.

Logan, TK, Shannon, L., Cole, J., & Swanberg, J. (2007). Partner stalking and implications for women’s employment. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 22(3), 268‐291.
This study looks at the consequences of partner stalking on employment. This study looked at two samples of women. The first consisted of women who had obtained a protective order against their violent partner and had been employed over the last year. The second sample was comprised of women who had been recently stalked by a violent partner. The results from this research found that women who were stalked by a violent partner were more liable for harassment and other problems within their place of employment.

Swanberg, J. (2006). Making it work: Informal caregiving, cancer, and employment. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 24(3), 1‐18.
This qualitative study identifies the factors that may hinder or enhance a caregiver’s ability to informally care for a patient with cancer. In addition, this study discusses the aspects of caregiving that may impede one’s ability to adhere to professional work responsibilities.




Swanberg, J., Kantazar, T., Mendiondo, M., & McCoskey, M. (2006). Caring for our elders: A contemporary conundrum for working people. Families in Society, 87(3), 417‐426.
This exploratory study investigates the informal elder care issues that employees confront. This study used qualitative data to gather research about a variety of elder care situations that individuals who provide informal care experience. This article also discusses the motives employee caregivers have for seeking professional elder care services.

Swanberg, J., Logan, T., & Macke, C. (2006). The consequences of partner violence on employment and the workplace. In Kelloway, K., Barling, J. & Hurrell, J. (Eds.) Handboook of Workplace Violence (pp. 351‐379). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
This article discusses the relationship between partner violence and workplaces. This article expands on the known consequences of partner violence on employment. The authors look at the consequences from an individual and organizational perspective.

Swanberg, J., Pitt‐Catsouphes, M., & Drescher‐Burke, K. (2005). A question of justice: Disparities in employees’ access to flexible schedule arrangements. Journal of Family Issues, 2(6), 866‐895.
This article seeks to find which group of employees are least likely to have access to the option of flexible scheduling. This study identifies the employee, job, and workplace features that can inhibit access to flexible schedule alternatives. The study identified that low‐income, low‐education levels, and hourly work are characterisitcs linked with having less flexible work schedules.

Swanberg, J., Logan, TK, & Macke, C. (2005). Intimate partner violence, employment, and the workplace: Consequences and future directions. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 4(10), 1‐26.
The purpose of this article is to examine the literature on violence against women and employment.

Swanberg, J. (2005). Job‐family role strain among low‐wage workers. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 26(1), 143‐158
This exploratory study seeks to name the personal, family, and job characteristics connected with low‐wage workers’ job‐family strain. Support from the employee’s supervisor was independently related to two of the three job‐family strain variables.

Swanberg, J. (2004). Illuminating gendered organization assumptions: An important step in creating a family‐friendly organization. Community, Work & Family, 7(1), 3‐26.
The goal of this article is to offer a theoretical framework for understanding how gender role assumptions have hindered workplaces from implementing a work‐family agenda within the organization. This article also offers a case study to demonstrate the effects of gender‐role assumptions.