Mary Himmelstein

Mary Himmelstein is an Assistant Professor in Psychological Sciences at Kent State University, where she leads the SWAG Lab. Her research examines biopsychosocial mechanisms linking weight stigma and masculinity to health outcomes, with specific focus on intersecting identities, health disparities, and coping strategies. She mentors doctoral students in Psychological Science with specializations in social and health psychology.

Research investigates physical and psychological consequences of weight stigma, masculinity's role in healthcare engagement, and stigma internalization across diverse populations. Recent publications explore healthcare avoidance as vigilance behavior and maladaptive eating pathways.