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    John Gunstad

    John Gunstad, Ph.D.

    Department of Psychological Sciences
    Professor
    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
    Brain Health Research Institute

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    1175 Lefton Esplanade
    Kent, OH 44242


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    800 E. Summit St.
    Kent, OH 44242

    Contact Us

    330-672-1855 brainhealth@kent.edu
    Contact Us
    • 330-672-3000
    • info@kent.edu

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