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Psychology Department
D. Catherine Walker

D. Catherine Walker

Associate Professor of Psychology
Chair, Human Subjects Review Committee
Bailey Hall 301D
(518) 388-6538
walkerc@union.edu
Pronouns
she/her/hers
Psychology, Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies

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

(*denotes Union College student co-authors; **denotes graduate student co-authors)

IF = Impact Factor; Scopus h-index: 7; Web of Science (WoS) h-index: 6; Google scholar (GS) h-index: 8;

PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES

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

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

Walker, D. C. & Murray, K. (2022). 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

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

Gullo, N.* & Walker, D. C. (2021). Increased videoconferencing after COVID-19 stay-at-home orders increased depression and anxiety but did not impact appearance satisfaction or binge eating. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 3, 100080. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2021.100080; Journal IF = 6.829; 4 citations (GS)

Walker, D. C., Donahue, J. M.**, Heiss, S.**, Brooks, J.*, Ehrlich, E.*, Anderson, L. M., Gorrell, S., Morison, J. N., & Anderson, D. A. (2021). Rapid response is predictive of treatment outcomes in a transdiagnostic intensive outpatient eating disorder sample: a replication of prior research in a real‑world setting. Eating and Weight Disorders, 26, 1345-1356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-00939-y; Journal IF = 4.652 (2020); 5-year IF = 4.462 (2020); 2 citations (WoS/GS)

Heiss, S.**, Walker, D. C., Hormes, J. M. & Morison, J. (2021). Vegetarian and vegan diets in eating disorder patients: A retrospective clinical chart review. Eating and Weight Disorders, 26, 1007-1012. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-00903-w; IF = 4.652 (2020); Journal 5-year IF = 4.462 (2020); 2 citations (WoS)

Walker, D. C., Gorrell, S., Hildebrandt, T. B., & Anderson, D. A. (2020). Immediate and delayed consequences of high body checking in women with high shape and weight concern. Behavior Therapy, 52(4), 830-846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2020.10.005; Journal IF = 4.183; 0 citations (WoS); 1 citation (GS)

Walker, D. C., Heiss, S.**, Donahue, J. M.**, & Brooks, J.* (2020). Practitioners' perspectives on ethical issues within the treatment of eating disorders: Concept mapping results from a Q-sort study. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53(12), 1941-1951. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23381; Journal IF = 4.861; 1 citation (WoS); 2 citations (GS)

De Young, K. D., Kambanis, P. E.**, Bottera, A. R.**, Thomas, J., Franko, D., Herzog, D., Walker, D. C., Anderson, D., & Eddy, K. (2020). Identifying duration criteria for remission and relapse through intensive modeling of longitudinal data. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53(8), 1224-1233. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23249; Journal IF = 4.861; 5 citations (WoS); 6 citations (GS)

Gorrell, S.**, Walker, D. C., Boswell, J., & Anderson, D. A. (2019). Gender differences in compensatory behavior in response to alcohol use. Eating and Weight Disorders, 24, 715-721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0545-7; IF = 4.652 (2020); Journal 5-year IF = 4.462 (2020); 10 citations (WoS); 17 citations (GS)

Walker, D. C., White, E. **, & Srinivasan, V.* (2018). A meta-analysis of the relationships between body checking, body image avoidance, body image dissatisfaction, and disordered eating. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 51(8), 745-770. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22867; Journal IF = 4.861; 32 citations (WoS); 69 citations (GS)

Walker, D. C., Murray, A. D., Lavender, J., & Anderson, D. A. (2012). The direct effects of manipulating body checking in men. Body Image, 9, 462-468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.06.001; IF = 6.406; 14 citations (WoS); 39 citations (GS)

Alfano, L., Hildebrandt, T., Bannon, K., Walker, D. C., & Walton, K. (2011). The impact of gender on the assessment of body checking behavior. Body Image, 8, 20-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2010.09.005; Journal IF = 6.406; 29 citations (WoS)

Hildebrandt, T., Walker, D. C., Alfano, L., Delinsky, S., & Bannon, K. (2010). Development and validation of a male specific body checking questionnaire. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 43, 77-87. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20669; Journal IF = 4.861; 33 citations (WoS) 81 citations (GS)

Walker, D. C., Anderson, D. A., & Hildebrandt, T. (2009). Body checking behaviors in men. Body Image, 6, 164-170; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2009.05.001. Journal IF = 6.406; 57 citations (WoS); 148 citations (GS)

Hildebrandt, T. & Walker, D. C. (2006). Evidence that ideal and attractive bodies represent different constructs: A replication and extension of Cororvé-Fingeret, Gleaves, and Pearson (2004), Body Image, 3, 173-182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2006.01.002; Journal IF = 6.406; 20 citations (GS)

MANUSCRIPTS UNDER REVIEW

Brooks, J.* & Walker, D. C. What can my body do for me? Seeking to improve body-functionality valuation with a guided functionality mirror exposure.

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