Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies Program
D. Catherine Walker
Job Title
Associate Professor of Psychology
Director, Mental Health Care Minor
Chair, Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Pronouns
she/her/hers
Research interests
My research focuses on body image, eating disorders, and disordered weight- and shape-control behaviors. Specifically, individuals with body dissatisfaction repeatedly engage in body checking or body image avoidance behaviors, to gain or avoid information about their shape, weight, and size. My research has examined how body checking and avoidance behaviors impact body image and weight and shape-control behaviors. I also have a research interest in body image and disordered eating and body image in groups who have been under-represented in eating disorders and body image research: men, gender diverse individuals, racially/ethnically diverse populations, and larger-bodied individuals, for example. Lastly, my research focuses on clinical applications of prevention and treatment for eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction.
Teaching interests
Professor Walker teaches courses on body image and eating disorders, assessment and testing, addictions, and clinical psychology 1: disorders. Professor Walker is also the new co-chair of the mental health care minor at Union College. She researches body image, weight, and eating disorders.
Publications
RECENT PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES (*denotes Union College student/alumni co-author; ** denotes graduate student co-author)
Walker, D. C., Chen, M.*, Reilly, E. E., Morison, J., & Anderson, L. M. (2026). Examining within-session and between-session change in exposure-meal-related distress in a transdiagnostic eating disorders intensive outpatient treatment sample. International Journal of Eating Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.70096.s IF = 4.3
Costello, K.**, Javaras, K., Brooks, J. M.,* Anderson, D. A., & Walker, D. C. (2026). In the mirror: Functional Appreciated Bodies (IM FAB). Testing an easily disseminable body image dissatisfaction micro-intervention. Body Image, 56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2025.102024
Walker, D. C., Tran, M. P. N.*, Bizer, G., B. & Flynn, S. T.* (2026). Can we still use online recruitment in the age of agentic generative AI? Initial attempts to detect or screen out AI responses prove elusive. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 0(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.70024
Walker, D. C., Tran, M. P. N.*, Leavitt, L. E.*, & Contreras, D.* (2025). Assessing the Usability, Feasibility and Engagement of IM FAB, a Pilot Functionality-Focused Micro-Intervention to Reduce Eating Disorder Risk. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22, 1618. IF = 4.61 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22111618
Gullo, N*, Brand, O*, Harrop, D., & Walker, D. C. (2025) The impact of weight and race on perceptions of anorexia nervosa. Eating and Weight Disorders, 30(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01748-x; IF: 3.008
Avon, V.*, Gullo, N.*, & Walker, D. C. (2024). Borderline personality disorder, body modification, and emotional regulation. International Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 22(1), 89. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010089 IF: 4.614
García Moreno, N.*, Gullo, N.*, Walker, D. C., & O’Dea, C. (2025). Weight stigma’s effects on misdiagnosis of eating disorders among laypeople and healthcare professionals. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 58(4), 690-702. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.24374; IF: 4.861
Keigan, J.*, De Los Santos, B.*, Gaither, S. E., & Walker, D. C. (2024) The relationship between ethnic identification and body ideal internalization, hair satisfaction, and skin tone satisfaction in Black women. Body Image. 50: 101719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101719 IF: 5.4
Walker, D. C. & Murray, K. (2024). A pilot clinical case series of functionality-focused mirror exposure in women with clinically elevated body dissatisfaction. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. 31(1), 90-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2022.05.001; IF: 2.9
Competiello, S. K.*, Bizer, G., & Walker, D. C. (2023) The effect of stigmatizing social media on attitudes toward mental-health treatment. Social Media & Society, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231207847 IF: 5.5
Brooks, J.*, Walker, D. C., & Murray, K. (2023). What can my body do for me? Seeking to improve body-functionality valuation with a guided functionality mirror exposure. Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2023.2209195; IF: 1.6
Walker, D. C., Gaither, S., Keigan, J.*, De Los Santos, B.*, Schaefer, L., & Thompson, J. K. (2022). Development and validation of a measure of curvy ideals internalization. Body Image., 43, 217-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.09.005; IF: 5.4
Fogarty, S. M.*, & Walker, D. C. (2022). Twinks, Jocks, and Bears, Oh My! Differing subcultural appearance identifications among gay men and their associated eating disorder psychopathology. Body Image, 42, 126-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.05.010; IF: 5.4
Donahue, J., Scharmer, C.**, Fogarty, S.*, & Walker, D. C. (2022) Establishing validity and factor structure for the Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test in gay men. Eating Behaviors, 45, 101631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2022.101631; IF: 2.4
Martinez, K.**, Guan, C.*, & Walker, D. C. (2022) I’m angry that I’m not perfect! Aggression mediates the relationship between perfectionism and eating pathology in men and women. Eating and Weight Disorders, 27, 1895-1901. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-021-01319-w; IF: 3.008
Additional media
Areas of interest
Clinical psychology with interests in weight, body image, and eating disorders.Academic credentials
B.A., Rutgers College; M.A., Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany
Bailey Hall, 3rd Floor
View in Google Maps