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Suzanne Mazzeo

Suzanne Mazzeo

Associate Professor

Contact information

Phone: (804) 827-1708
E-mail: semazzeo@vcu.edu

Education

Ph.D. (2000) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Program affiliation

Counseling Psychology

Research interests

My research interests are in the areas of eating disorders and obesity. Specifically, I examine the interaction of genetic and environmental factors on eating behaviors. I am particularly interested in understanding more about environmental factors that influence expression of genetic predispositions to eating problems. I also am interested in the role of culture on eating behaviors, and in developing culturally competent interventions to promote healthy eating and exercising behaviors.

Selected publications

Gerke, C. K., Mazzeo, S. E., & Kliewer, W. (in press). The Role of Depressive and Dissociative Symptoms in the Relationship between Childhood Trauma and Disordered Eating. Child Abuse and Neglect.

Stern, M., Mazzeo, S.E., Gerke, C., Porter, J. S., Bean, M. K., & Laver, J.(in press). Gender, ethnicity, psychosocial factors and quality of life among severely overweight, treatment-seeking adolescents.  Journal of Pediatric Psychology.

Mazzeo, S.E., Mitchell, K.S., Gerke, C.K., & Bulik, C.M. (in press). Parental Feeding Style and Eating Attitudes: Influences on Children's Eating Behavior. Current Nutrition and Food Science.

Mitchell, K., Mazzeo, S., Rausch, S., & Cooke, K.  (in press).  Innovative interventions for disordered eating: Evaluating dissonance-based and yoga interventions.  International Journal of Eating Disorders.

Stern, M., Mazzeo, S.E., Porter, J., Gerke, C., Bryan, D., & Laver, J. (in press). Eating and exercise behaviors of obese African American girls and their mothers.  Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings.

More publications [PDF]

Recent/current courses taught at VCU

  • Theories of Counseling and Personality, graduate level
  • Stress & Its Management, undergraduate level
  • Health Psychology, undergraduate level
  • Introduction to the Helping Relationship, undergraduate level
  • Research Internship, undergraduate level

Recent grants or awards
NIMH K01 Award: “Genetic Epidemiology of Eating Disordered Behavior” August 2004-July 2009 Grant # 1K01MH068520-1A1 (Mazzeo, PI).
National Eating Disorders Association Lori Irving Memorial Grant: “Preventing Eating Disorders in the Next Generation: Addressing Parenting Concerns of Women with a History of Eating Disorders” June 2003 to June 2006 (no-cost extension Mazzeo, PI).
Virginia Commonwealth University   |   College of Humanities and Sciences   |   Department of Psychology
806 West Franklin Street   |   Richmond, Virginia 23284-2018   |   Phone: (804) 828-1193
Web contact : jldavis@vcu.edu   |   Updated: 08/25/2006