Investigator Development (IDeA) Award 2023: Katrina Burch

Institution: Western Kentucky University

Department: Psychological Sciences

Rank: Associate Professor

Project Title: Investing the Spillover and Crossover Effects of Workplace Incivility on Family Health and Behavior

About the project: My project is examining how experienced incivility (or rudeness) at work influences individual and family health and well-being through emotional processes. Essentially, investigating affective work experiences as social determinants in the etiology of stress-based outcomes for individuals and their families. 

Intended outcomes: I hope the project highlights the importance of understanding how work, as a component of individuals’ central identities, can be detrimental. Ultimately, I believe that we have the capacity to change population health through our work institutions, but first we need to understand how psychosocial work factors influence health and behavior so we can understand what needs to change.

How KY INBRE will help accomplish these goals: KY INBRE has been generous in their support of my research, allowing me the opportunity to help support my students and grow their skills and competencies in research, which feeds back into my research program.

Outside of the classroom/lab: I have a designated cat room at my house for animal fostering. I have been fostering cats and kittens through my local humane society since 2020 and have seen some 50 animals in my home across that time. I often take litters that need additional medical support and have become quite skilled at kitten triage and administering medication to cats.