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Are mindful people better at regulating their emotions?

Emotions such as fear, sadness, anger, and so on often need to be "regulated" for us to behave in healthy, adaptive ways. How can people better regulate their emotions when stressed? read more...

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Can we help children with ADHD succeed in school?

Adolescents with ADHD often experience significant problems in school, such as failing grades and low achievement test scores. Can we predict these problems before they occur? read more...

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Why do African American youth trade cigarettes for cigars?

Many youth perceive cigars to pose fewer health risks than cigarettes. But, is this true? read more...

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Are cultural issues important in rehabilitation medicine?

Many health problems and disabilities disproportionately affect ethnic minority communities. But what can rehabilitation specialists do to change that? read more...

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Is religious counseling effective?

Many religious people say they want religious counseling. But is it effective? And, if it is not available, is secular counseling less effective for religious people than religious counseling? read more...

mazzeo

Dr. Suzanne Mazzeo

Associate Professor

Counseling Psychology

 

PhD (2000), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Contact Information

Phone: 804-828-1708

Office: 800 W Franklin, rm 205

E-mail: semazzeo@vcu.edu

Web site: Research Lab

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.

Recent Courses Taught at VCU
Recent Grants

NIMH R34 Award: “An Integrative Intervention for Binge Eating among Adolescent Girls” September 2010-July 2013. (Mazzeo, PI, $450,000 direct cost total).

NIMH K01 Award:  “Genetic Epidemiology of Eating Disordered Behavior” August 2004-July 2010 Grant # 1K01MH068520 (Mazzeo, PI, $654,209).

NICHD R03 Award: “Parent Skills Training to Enhance Weight Loss in Overweight Children” May 2008-April 2010, Grant #HD-056050-01 (Mazzeo, PI, $100,000 direct cost total).

Recent Award