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Melissa A. Napolitano, PhD

Clinical Psychologist, Center for Obesity Research and Education

Associate Professor, Kinesiology and Public Health (College of Health Professions)

Telephone:  215-707-8639

FAX: 215-707-6475

Email: napolita@temple.edu

Center for Obesity Research and Education

BA, Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT (Intensive Program)

 

MA, Clinical Psychology, Duke University, Durham, NC

 

PhD, Clinical Psychology, Duke University, Durham, NC

 

Internship, Psychology, Brown University Clinical Psychology Training Consortium, Providence, RI

 

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Brown University Medical School, Providence, RI

 

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Dr. Napolitano has developed and obtained extramural funding for her program of research on applying psychosocial frameworks and theories for promoting health behavior change, including physical activity, smoking cessation, and weight management.  Her research focuses on delivering these interventions via face-to-face programs and through different channels (e.g., telephone, print, Internet).  She has been the principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous research grants from foundation sources, as well as the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Dr. Napolitano is a licensed psychologist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and serves as the primary clinical supervisor for predoctoral psychology interns and postdoctoral fellows delivering behavioral weight control treatment at the Center for Obesity Research and Education.

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Recent Medically Related Publications, Obtained from PubMed (Click on PubMed ID to view abstract)

19781877. McAndrew LM, Napolitano MA, Albrecht A, Farrell NC, Marcus BH, Whiteley JA, When, why and for whom there is a relationship between physical activity and menopause symptoms. Maturitas 64:2(119-25)2009 Oct 20

18777124. Williams DM, Lewis BA, Dunsiger S, Whiteley JA, Papandonatos GD, Napolitano MA, Bock BC, Ciccolo JT, Marcus BH, Comparing psychosocial predictors of physical activity adoption and maintenance. Ann Behav Med 36:2(186-94)2008 Oct

18642998. Napolitano MA, Papandonatos GD, Lewis BA, Whiteley JA, Williams DM, King AC, Bock BC, Pinto B, Marcus BH, Mediators of physical activity behavior change: a multivariate approach. Health Psychol 27:4(409-18)2008 Jul

18562974. Williams DM, Matthews CE, Rutt C, Napolitano MA, Marcus BH, Interventions to increase walking behavior. Med Sci Sports Exerc 40:7 Suppl(S567-73)2008 Jul

18234327. Dutton GR, Napolitano MA, Whiteley JA, Marcus BH, Is physical activity a gateway behavior for diet? Findings from a physical activity trial. Prev Med 46:3(216-21)2008 Mar

17616486. Marcus BH, Lewis BA, Williams DM, Whiteley JA, Albrecht AE, Jakicic JM, Parisi AF, Hogan JW, Napolitano MA, Bock BC, Step into Motion: a randomized trial examining the relative efficacy of Internet vs. print-based physical activity interventions. Contemp Clin Trials 28:6(737-47)2007 Nov

17605559. Marcus BH, Napolitano MA, King AC, Lewis BA, Whiteley JA, Albrecht A, Parisi A, Bock B, Pinto B, Sciamanna C, Jakicic J, Papandonatos GD, Telephone versus print delivery of an individualized motivationally tailored physical activity intervention: Project STRIDE. Health Psychol 26:4(401-9)2007 Jul

17573103. Sevick MA, Napolitano MA, Papandonatos GD, Gordon AJ, Reiser LM, Marcus BH, Cost-effectiveness of alternative approaches for motivating activity in sedentary adults: results of Project STRIDE. Prev Med 45:1(54-61)2007 Jul

17502536. Marcus BH, Lewis BA, Williams DM, Dunsiger S, Jakicic JM, Whiteley JA, Albrecht AE, Napolitano MA, Bock BC, Tate DF, Sciamanna CN, Parisi AF, A comparison of Internet and print-based physical activity interventions. Arch Intern Med 167:9(944-9)2007 May 14

16919322. Napolitano MA, Whiteley JA, Papandonatos G, Dutton G, Farrell NC, Albrecht A, Bock B, Bazzarre T, Sciamanna C, Dunn AL, Marcus BH, Outcomes from the women's wellness project: a community-focused physical activity trial for women. Prev Med 43:6(447-53)2006 Dec

16894829. Napolitano MA, Lerch H, Papandonatos G, Marcus BH, Worksite and communications-based promotion of a local walking path. J Community Health 31:4(326-42)2006 Aug

16839823. Marcus BH, Napolitano MA, King AC, Lewis BA, Whiteley JA, Albrecht AE, Parisi AF, Bock BC, Pinto BM, Sciamanna CA, Jakicic JM, Papandonatos GD, Examination of print and telephone channels for physical activity promotion: Rationale, design, and baseline data from Project STRIDE. Contemp Clin Trials 28:1(90-104)2007 Jan

16672853. Gallagher KI, Jakicic JM, Napolitano MA, Marcus BH, Psychosocial factors related to physical activity and weight loss in overweight women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 38:5(971-80)2006 May

15941955. Emmons KM, McBride CM, Puleo E, Pollak KI, Clipp E, Kuntz K, Marcus BH, Napolitano M, Onken J, Farraye F, Fletcher R, Project PREVENT: a randomized trial to reduce multiple behavioral risk factors for colon cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 14:6(1453-9)2005 Jun

15749134. Emmons KM, McBride CM, Puleo E, Pollak KI, Marcus BH, Napolitano M, Clipp E, Onken J, Farraye FA, Fletcher R, Prevalence and predictors of multiple behavioral risk factors for colon cancer. Prev Med 40:5(527-34)2005 May

12966123. Jakicic JM, Marcus BH, Gallagher KI, Napolitano M, Lang W, Effect of exercise duration and intensity on weight loss in overweight, sedentary women: a randomized trial. JAMA 290:10(1323-30)2003 Sep 10

12704010. Napolitano MA, Fotheringham M, Tate D, Sciamanna C, Leslie E, Owen N, Bauman A, Marcus B, Evaluation of an internet-based physical activity intervention: a preliminary investigation. Ann Behav Med 25:2(92-9)2003 Spring

12460529. Sciamanna CN, Lewis B, Tate D, Napolitano MA, Fotheringham M, Marcus BH, User attitudes toward a physical activity promotion website. Prev Med 35:6(612-5)2002 Dec

12408207. King AC, Friedman R, Marcus B, Castro C, Forsyth L, Napolitano M, Pinto B, Harnessing motivational forces in the promotion of physical activity: the Community Health Advice by Telephone (CHAT) project. Health Educ Res 17:5(627-36)2002 Oct

12377839. Napolitano MA, Babyak MA, Palmer S, Tapson V, Davis RD, Blumenthal JA, Effects of a telephone-based psychosocial intervention for patients awaiting lung transplantation. Chest 122:4(1176-84)2002 Oct

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