Kerstin Blomquist

Graduate Student

Clinical Science

Office: 404 Wilson Hall
Phone: (615) 322-5548
Fax: (615) 343-8449
Email:

Degrees

B.S., Wellesley College, Psychology and French, 2000
M.A., Vanderbilt University, Clinical Science, 2004
Doctoral Candidate, Vanderbilt University, Clinical Science

Research Area

My research interests include body image, eating disorders, and health behaviors. My dissertation research study tests hypotheses derived from a cognitive behavioral and interpersonal (CBI) model of body image and specifically examines the impact of romantic relationships on women’s body dissatisfaction. I am interested in other facets of body image and eating behaviors as well. For example, I am co-investigating the role of weight dissatisfaction in obesity-related eating behaviors among African Americans and Caucasians as well as co-author on a chapter discussing the use of acceptance-based therapies in body image, eating disorders, and health conditions in children and adolescents. My long term career goals are to develop a program of research that examines risk factors, prevention, and treatment interventions for eating disorders and to implement these eating disorder intervention programs in the community for adolescent girls and adults.

Current Research

Body Image, Eating Disorders, Health Behaviors

Current Positions

Clinical Intern at the University of California, San Diego

Professional Societies

Academy of Eating Disorders (AED)
American Psychological Association (APA), Division 12, Clinical Psychology
Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)

Professional Honors

2005-2007 Developmental Psychopathology Training Grant Predoctoral Trainee; NIMH Training Grant T32-MH18921 and NICHD Grant P30HD15052
2001-2005 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship
2006 Lisa M. Quesenberry Dissertation Research Award
2005 American Psychological Association (APA) Dissertation Research Award
2005 American Psychological Association (APA) Student Travel Award
2004 William F. Hodges Teaching Assistant Award for “exceptional service as a teaching assistant”
2000 Harold Stirling Vanderbilt Graduate Scholar (Academic Scholarship)
2000 Summa Cum Laude
2000 Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
2000 Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society
2000 Honors in Psychology

Representative Publications

Buchowski, M., Majchrzak, K., Blomquist, K., Chen, K., Byrne, D., & Bachorowski, J.-A. (2006). Energy expenditure of genuine laughter. International Journal of Obesity, May, 1-7.
Blomquist, K., Freid, C., & Schlundt, D. (In Revision). Weight Dissatisfaction and Eating Behaviors in African Americans and Caucasians.
Greco, L., Blomquist, K., Acra, S., & Mouton, D. (In Review). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adolescents with Functional Abdominal Pain: Results of a Pilot Investigation.
Blomquist, K., & Schlundt, D. (In Preparation). Associations between Women's Body Dissatisfaction and Romantic Relationships: A Cognitive-Behavioral and Interpersonal Model of Body Image.
Blomquist, K., Tennis, & Bachorowski, J. A. (In Preparation). The Acoustics Features of Children's Laughter.
Greco, L., Blomquist, K., Gevers, A., & Wessling, E. (Chapter in Preparation). Acceptance, Body Image, and Health in Childhood and Adolescence.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:
Blomquist, K., & Greco, L. (2006, November). Body image and eating behavior among adolescent boys and girls: Do dating likelihood and social skills alter concurrent risk? Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, IL.
Greco, L.A., & Blomquist, K.K. (2006, November). Body image, eating behavior, and quality of life among adolescent girls: Role of anxiety and acceptance processes in a school sample. In K.S. Berlin & A.R. Murrell (Co-Chairs), Extending Acceptance and Mindfulness Research to Parents, Families, and Adolescents: Process, Empirical Findings, Clinical Implications, and Future Directions. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, IL.
Greco, L.A., & Blomquist, K.K. (2006, November). Body image and eating behavior among school-aged girls: Contributions of somatic complaints and experiential avoidance over time. In Sandoz, E. K., From the Lab to the Table: Mindfulness and Disordered Eating in Basic and Applied Domains. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, IL.
Blomquist, K., Dew, S., Pinkard, T., & Greco, L. (2005, November). Peer relationships and social skills among youth: Effects of gender, race, and handicaps in a rural community sample. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, D.C.
Blomquist, K., & Greco, L. (2005, November). Friendship quality, body image, and eating behaviors in adolescence. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, D.C.
Blomquist, K., Freid, C., & Schlundt, D. (2005, August). Eating behaviors associated with BMI, weight perception, race, and gender. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.
Blomquist, K., & Bachorowski, J.A. (2003). Laugh acoustics are associated with biological maturation across social contexts. Poster presented at Vanderbilt University Graduate Student Research Day, Nashville, TN.
Blomquist, K., & Schiavo, S. (2000). Acne is related to quality of life but not personality. Paper presented at Wellesley College Ruhlman Research Conference, Wellesley, MA.