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John Gunstad

John Gunstad

Department of Psychological Sciences
Professor
Campus:
Kent
Office Location:
329 Kent Hall Annex
Contact Information
Email:
jgunstad@kent.edu
Fax:
330-672-3786
Personal Website: Science of Health Interventions and Peak Performance (SHIPP)

Biography

Research Areas:

  • Clinical - Adult
  • Clinical - Health

Does Dr. Gunstad plan to recruit a doctoral student for the next incoming class?

Specialty:

Clinical Neuropsychology, Health, and Sport Psychology

Research Interests:

Students in Dr. Gunstad’s lab conduct research on a broad range of topics related to clinical psychology, with a particular interest in: 1) interventions that can improve mental and physical health outcomes; and 2) strategies to facilitate peak performance.  Much of this research is conducted through the Kent State University Student Life Study  (https://www.kent.edu/student-life-study), a first-of-its-kind project that will follow  10,000 KSU undergraduates to graduation and beyond to better understand mental, physical, occupational, and social health outcomes during this critical life stage. 

Lab Site:

Science of Health Interventions and Peak Performance (SHIPP) Lab

Courses Frequently Taught:

  • Introduction to Psychological Assessment (graduate)
  • Psychology for Everyday Life (undergraduate)

Publications:

  • Groh, J.R., Yhang, E., Tripodis, Y., Palmisano, J., Martin, B., Burke, E., Bhatia, U., Mez,, J., Stern, R.A., Gunstad, J., Alosco, ML. (2025). Health Outcomes of Former Division I College Athletes. Brain Injury, 39, 88-98.
  • Cobar, J., Gunstad, J., Bond, D., Michalak, I., Ebadinejad, A., Tishler, D., Stevens, M., Pearlson, G., & Papasavas, P. (2024). Prospective comparisons of mental planning ability in sleeve gastrectomy patients and non-operative controls. Obesity Surgery, 34, 3901-3904.
  • Coifman, K, & Gunstad, J. (2024). The gap between need and resources is urgent in emerging adulthood - This is an opportunity: Commentary on Kazdin. American Psychologist, 79, 768-769.  
  • Burke, E.M., Jenkins, T., Boles, R., Mitchell, J., Inge, T., Gunstad, J., for the Teen-LABS Consortium (2024). Cognitive function 10 years after adolescent bariatric surgery. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 20, 614-620.

Research Institutes and Initiatives:

  • Kent State University Student Life Study
  • Human Performance Education, Research, and Outreach (HERO) Initiative 

Education

Ph.D., Ohio University (2002)

News Stories

These Benefits of Weight Loss Will Motivate You to Hit Your Goals , University launches first gluten-free dining hall , Psychology professor John Gunstad studies the connection between obesity and cognitive problems, Stow-Glen, KSU partner in mood, memory project, The wrong eating habits can hurt your brain, Obesity Can Lead to Memory Loss,
Department of Psychological Sciences

Street Address

600 Hilltop Drive Kent, OH 44242


Mailing Address

800 E. Summit St.
Kent, OH 44242

Contact Us

Phone: 330-672-2166 | Fax: 330-672-3786 psych@kent.edu
Contact Us
  • 330-672-3000
  • info@kent.edu

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