Dr. Williams received a BS in psychology from Stockton University and a PhD in clinical psychology from Virginia Tech. He joined the research faculty at Brown University in 2006 and the teaching faculty in 2009.
Dr. Williams has two books:
Williams, D.M. (2019): Darwinian Hedonism and the Epidemic of Unhealthy Behavior, Cambridge University Press, pre-orders available here on Amazon.com.
Williams, D.M., Rhodes, R.E., & Conner, M.T. (2018): Affective Determinants of Health Behavior, Oxford University Press, available here on Amazon.com.
| Lee HH, Dunsiger S, Connell Bohlen L, Boyle HK, Emerson JA, Williams DM. "Age Moderates the Effect of Self-Paced Exercise on Exercise Adherence among Overweight Adults." Journal of aging and health, vol. 32, no. 3-4, 2020, pp. 154-161. |
| Sutin, Angelina R., Boutelle, Kerri, Czajkowski, Susan M., Epel, Elissa S., Green, Paige A., Hunter, Christine M., Rice, Elise L., Williams, David M., Young-Hyman, Deborah, Rothman, Alexander J. "Accumulating Data to Optimally Predict Obesity Treatment (ADOPT) Core Measures: Psychosocial Domain." Obesity, vol. 26, 2018, pp. S45-S54. |
| Emerson JA, Dunsiger S, Williams DM. "Reciprocal within-day associations between incidental affect and exercise: An EMA study." Psychology & Health, vol. 33, no. 1, 2018, pp. 130-143. |
| Williams DM, Lee HH, Connell L, Boyle H, Emerson J, Strohacker K, Galárraga O. "Small sustainable monetary incentives versus charitable donations to promote exercise: Rationale, design, and baseline data from a randomized pilot study." Contemporary Clinical Trials, vol. 66, 2018, pp. 80-85. |
| Rosen RK, Thind H, Jennings E, Guthrie KM, Williams DM, Bock BC. "Smoking Does Not Go With Yoga:" A Qualitative Study of Women's Phenomenological Perceptions During Yoga and Smoking Cessation." International journal of yoga therapy, vol. 26, no. 1, 2016, pp. 33-41. |
| Williams DM, Dunsiger S, Davy BM, Kelleher SA, Marinik EL, Winett RA. "Psychosocial mediators of a theory-based resistance training maintenance intervention for prediabetic adults." Psychology & Health, vol. 31, no. 9, 2016, pp. 1108-24. |
| Williams DM, Rhodes RE. "Reviving the critical distinction between perceived capability and motivation: a response to commentaries." Health Psychology Review, vol. 10, no. 2, 2016, pp. 144-7. |
| Williams DM, Dunsiger S, Emerson JA, Gwaltney CJ, Monti PM, Miranda R Jr. "Self-Paced Exercise, Affective Response, and Exercise Adherence: A Preliminary Investigation Using Ecological Momentary Assessment." Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, vol. 38, no. 3, 2016, pp. 282-291. |
| Williams DM, Rhodes RE. "The confounded self-efficacy construct: conceptual analysis and recommendations for future research." Health Psychology Review, vol. 10, no. 2, 2016, pp. 1-16. |
| Rhodes RE, Williams DM, Mistry CD. "Using short vignettes to disentangle perceived capability from motivation: a test using walking and resistance training behaviors." Psychology, Health & Medicine, vol. 21, no. 5, 2016, pp. 639-51. |
| Unick, Jessica L., Strohacker, Kelley, Papandonatos, George D., Williams, David, O’Leary, Kevin C., Dorfman, Leah, Becofsky, Katie, Wing, Rena R. "Examination of the Consistency in Affective Response to Acute Exercise in Overweight and Obese Women." JSEP, vol. 37, no. 5, 2015, pp. 534-46. |
| Strohacker K, Galárraga O, Emerson J, Fricchione SR, Lohse M, Williams DM. "Impact of Small Monetary Incentives on Exercise in University Students." Am J Hlth Behav, vol. 39, no. 6, 2015, pp. 779-86. |
| Williams, David M., Savla, Jyoti, Davy, Brenda M., Kelleher, Sarah A., Marinik, Elaina L., Winett, Richard A. "Questionnaires for Outcome Expectancy, Self-Regulation, and Behavioral Expectation for Resistance Training Among Young-Old Adults: Development and Preliminary Validity." JAPA, vol. 23, no. 2, 2015, pp. 279-285. |
| Winett, Richard A., Davy, Brenda M., Savla, Jyoti, Marinik, Elaina L., Kelleher, Sarah A., Winett, Sheila G., Halliday, Tanya M., Williams, David M. "Theory-based approach for maintaining resistance training in older adults with prediabetes: adherence, barriers, self-regulation strategies, treatment fidelity, costs." Translational behavioral medicine, vol. 5, no. 2, 2015, pp. 149-159. |
| Williams, D. M., Evans, D. R. "Current Emotion Research in Health Behavior Science." Emotion Review, vol. 6, no. 3, 2014, pp. 277-287. |
| Tidey, Jennifer W., Williams, D., Goodwin, C. "Effects of walking on cigarette craving, nicotine withdrawal symptoms and affect in smokers with schizophrenia." Drug and Alcohol Dependence, vol. 140, 2014, pp. e226. |
| Ciccolo, Joseph T., Williams, David M., Dunsiger, Shira I., Whitworth, James W., McCullough, Aston K., Bock, Beth C., Marcus, Bess H., Myerson, Merle. "Efficacy of resistance training as an aid to smoking cessation: Rationale and design of the Strength To Quit study." Mental Health and Physical Activity, vol. 7, no. 2, 2014, pp. 95-103. |
| Williams DM, Ussher M, Dunsiger S, Miranda R Jr, Gwaltney CJ, Monti PM, Emerson J. "Overcoming limitations in previous research on exercise as a smoking cessation treatment: rationale and design of the "Quit for Health" trial." Contemporary Clinical Trials, vol. 37, no. 1, 2014, pp. 33-42. |
| Williams, David M., Dunsiger, Shira, Miranda, Robert, Gwaltney, Chad J., Emerson, Jessica A., Monti, Peter M., Parisi, Alfred F. "Recommending Self-Paced Exercise among Overweight and Obese Adults: a Randomized Pilot Study." Annals of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 49, no. 2, 2014, pp. 280-285. |
| Strohacker K, Galarraga O, Williams DM. "The impact of incentives on exercise behavior: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials." Annals of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 48, no. 1, 2014, pp. 92-9. |
| Williams, David M., Raynor, Hollie A. "Disentangling the effects of choice and intensity on affective response to and preference for self-selected- versus imposed-intensity physical activity." Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 14, no. 5, 2013, pp. 767-775. |
| Lewis BA, Williams DM, Martinson BC, Dunsiger S, Marcus BH. "Healthy for life: a randomized trial examining physical activity outcomes and psychosocial mediators." Annals of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 45, no. 2, 2013, pp. 203-12. |
| Whiteley JA, Williams DM, Jennings EG, Ciccolo JT, Bock BC, Dunsiger S, Marcus BH. "The challenges of translating an efficacious smoking cessation program, Commit to Quit, to the community setting of YMCAs." Translational behavioral medicine, vol. 3, no. 1, 2013, pp. 47-58. |
| Williams DM, Dunsiger S, Jennings EG, Marcus BH. "Does affective valence during and immediately following a 10-min walk predict concurrent and future physical activity?." Annals of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 44, no. 1, 2012, pp. 43-51. |
| Papandonatos GD, Williams DM, Jennings EG, Napolitano MA, Bock BC, Dunsiger S, Marcus BH. "Mediators of physical activity behavior change: Findings from a 12-month randomized controlled trial." Health Psychology, vol. 31, no. 4, 2012, pp. 512-520. |
| Whiteley, Jessica A., Williams, David M., Dunsiger, Shira, Jennings, Ernestine G., Ciccolo, Joseph T., Bock, Beth C., Albrecht, Anna, Parisi, Alfred, Linke, Sarah E., Marcus, Bess H. "YMCA Commit to Quit." American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol. 43, no. 3, 2012, pp. 256-62. |
| Bock BC, Fava JL, Gaskins R, Morrow KM, Williams DM, Jennings E, Becker BM, Tremont G, Marcus BH. "Yoga as a complementary treatment for smoking cessation in women." Journal of Women's Health, vol. 21, no. 2, 2012, pp. 240-8. |
| Williams DM, Dunsiger S, Whiteley JA, Ussher MH, Ciccolo JT, Jennings EG. "Acute effects of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on affective withdrawal symptoms and cravings among women smokers." Addictive Behaviors, vol. 36, no. 8, 2011, pp. 894-897. |
| Anderson-Bill ES, Winett RA, Wojcik JR, Williams DM. "Aging and the social cognitive determinants of physical activity behavior and behavior change: evidence from the guide to health trial." Journal of aging research, vol. 2011, 2011, pp. 505928. |
| Williams, David M., Papandonatos, George D., Jennings, Ernestine G., Napolitano, Melissa A., Lewis, Beth A., Whiteley, Jessica A., Bock, Beth C., Albrecht, Anna E., Dunsiger, Shira, Parisi, Alfred F., King, Abby C., Marcus, Bess H. "Does tailoring on additional theoretical constructs enhance the efficacy of a print-based physical activity promotion intervention?." Health Psychology, vol. 30, no. 4, 2011, pp. 432-441. |
| Ciccolo JT, Dunsiger SI, Williams DM, Bartholomew JB, Jennings EG, Ussher MH, Kraemer WJ, Marcus BH. "Resistance training as an aid to standard smoking cessation treatment: a pilot study." Nicotine & Tobacco Research, vol. 13, no. 8, 2011, pp. 756-760. |
| Lewis BA, Williams DM, Neighbors CJ, Jakicic JM, Marcus BH. "Cost Analysis of Internet vs. Print Interventions for Physical Activity Promotion." Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 11, no. 3, 2010, pp. 246-249. |
| Pekmezi, Dorothy W., Williams, David M., Dunsiger, Shira, Jennings, Ernestine G., Lewis, Beth A., Jakicic, John M., Marcus, Bess H. "Feasibility of Using Computer-Tailored and Internet-Based Interventions to Promote Physical Activity in Underserved Populations." Telemedicine and e-Health, vol. 16, no. 4, 2010, pp. 498-503. |
| Williams DM. "Importance of the nature of comparison conditions for testing theory-based interventions: comment on Michie and Prestwich (2010)." Health Psychology, vol. 29, no. 5, 2010, pp. 467. |
| Williams, David M., Whiteley, Jessica A., Dunsiger, Shira, Jennings, Ernestine G., Albrecht, Anna E., Ussher, Michael H., Ciccolo, Joseph T., Parisi, Alfred F., Marcus, Bess H. "Moderate intensity exercise as an adjunct to standard smoking cessation treatment for women: A pilot study." Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, vol. 24, no. 2, 2010, pp. 349-54. |
| Williams DM. "Outcome expectancy and self-efficacy: theoretical implications of an unresolved contradiction." Personality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc, vol. 14, no. 4, 2010, pp. 417-25. |
| Anderson ES, Winett RA, Wojcik JR, Williams DM. "Social cognitive mediators of change in a group randomized nutrition and physical activity intervention: social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectations and self-regulation in the guide-to-health trial." Journal of Health Psychology, vol. 15, no. 1, 2010, pp. 21-32. |
| Bock BC, Morrow KM, Becker BM, Williams DM, Tremont G, Gaskins RB, Jennings E, Fava J, Marcus BH. "Yoga as a complementary treatment for smoking cessation: rationale, study design and participant characteristics of the Quitting-in-Balance study." BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 10, 2010, pp. 14. |
| Winett RA, Williams DM, Davy BM. "Initiating and maintaining resistance training in older adults: a social cognitive theory-based approach." British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 43, no. 2, 2009, pp. 114-9. |
| Williams, D. M., Raynor, H. A., Ciccolo, J. T. "A Review of TV Viewing and Its Association With Health Outcomes in Adults." American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, vol. 2, no. 3, 2008, pp. 250-259. |
| Williams, David M., Dunsiger, Shira, Ciccolo, Joseph T., Lewis, Beth A., Albrecht, Anna E., Marcus, Bess H. "Acute affective response to a moderate-intensity exercise stimulus predicts physical activity participation 6 and 12 months later." Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 9, no. 3, 2008, pp. 231-245. |
| 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." Annals of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 36, no. 2, 2008, pp. 186-94. |
| Williams DM. "Exercise, affect, and adherence: an integrated model and a case for self-paced exercise." JSEP, vol. 30, no. 5, 2008, pp. 471-96. |
| Williams DM, Matthews CE, Rutt C, Napolitano MA, Marcus BH. "Interventions to increase walking behavior." Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 40, no. 7 Suppl, 2008, pp. S567-73. |
| 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 Psychology, vol. 27, no. 4, 2008, pp. 409-18. |
| Frierson GM, Williams DM, Dunsiger S, Lewis BA, Whiteley JA, Albrecht AE, Jakicic JM, Horowitz SM, Marcus BH. "Recruitment of a racially and ethnically diverse sample into a physical activity efficacy trial." Clinical Trials, vol. 5, no. 5, 2008, pp. 504-16. |
| Lewis B, Williams D, Dunsiger S, Sciamanna C, Whiteley J, Napolitano M, Bock B, Jakicic J, Getz M, Marcus B. "User attitudes towards physical activity websites in a randomized controlled trial." Preventive Medicine, vol. 47, no. 5, 2008, pp. 508-513. |
| 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, vol. 167, no. 9, 2007, pp. 944-9. |
| Whiteley JA, Napolitano MA, Lewis BA, Williams DM, Albrecht A, Neighbors CJ, Sciamanna CN, Marcus BH. "Commit to Quit in the YMCAs: translating an evidence-based quit smoking program for women into a community setting." Nicotine & Tobacco Research, vol. 9, no. 11, 2007, pp. 1227-35. |
| 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." Contemporary Clinical Trials, vol. 28, no. 6, 2007, pp. 737-47. |
| Williams, David M., Dunsiger, Shira. "Suggestions for testing health behavior theories: Implications for mediator analysis." Annals of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 34, no. 2, 2007, pp. 223-223. |
| Williams DM, Dunsiger S. "Suggestions for testing health behavior theories: implications for mediator analysis." Annals of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 34, no. 2, 2007, pp. 223. |
| Marcus BH, Williams DM, Dubbert PM, Sallis JF, King AC, Yancey AK, Franklin BA, Buchner D, Daniels SR, Claytor RP, American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism (Subcommittee on Physical Activity), American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, Interdisciplinary Working Group on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research. "Physical activity intervention studies: what we know and what we need to know: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism (Subcommittee on Physical Activity); Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young; and the Interdisciplinary Working Group on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research." Circulation, vol. 114, no. 24, 2006, pp. 2739-52. |
| Anderson ES, Wojcik JR, Winett RA, Williams DM. "Social-cognitive determinants of physical activity: the influence of social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and self-regulation among participants in a church-based health promotion study." Health Psychology, vol. 25, no. 4, 2006, pp. 510-20. |
| Nash JM, Williams DM, Nicholson R, Trask PC. "The contribution of pain-related anxiety to disability from headache." J Behav Med, vol. 29, no. 1, 2006, pp. 61-7. |
| Williams DM, Anderson ES, Winett RA. "A review of the outcome expectancy construct in physical activity research." Annals of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 29, no. 1, 2005, pp. 70-9. |
| Williams DM, Frank ML, Lester D. "Predicting anxiety in competitive sports." Perceptual and motor skills, vol. 90, no. 3 Pt 1, 2000, pp. 847-50. |
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
NHLBI, NIH 7/14/04-12/31/05
F32 HL78709 Total Award: $61,781
Affective Variables as Determinants of Physical Activity
NCI, NIH 8/1/06-7/31/08
R03 CA119747 Total Award: $138,167
Does Moderate Intensity Exercise Help Prevent Smoking Relapse Among Women?
NCI,NIH 8/1/09-7/31/11
R21 CA137211 Total Award: $410,465
Adherence to Self-paced vs. Prescribed Intensity PA: Exploring Mechanisms via EMA
NCI, NIH 2/1/11-1/31/16
R01 CA155381 Total Award: $2,040,367
Efficacy of Brisk Walking as a Smoking Cessation Treatment Adjunct among Women
NCI, NIH 8/1/15-7/31/17
R03CA188473 Total Award: $162,500
Using Behavioral Economics to Promote Exercise among Inactive Overweight
NCI, NIH 5/1/18-3/31/20
R21CA224609 Total Award: $383,489
Physical Activity Promotion Based on Positive Psychology: Development and Piloting of a Novel Intervention Approach
CO-INVESTIGATOR
NHLBI, NIH (Marcus, PI) 1/20/0312/31/08
R01 HL69866
Internet Technologies to Increase Exercise Behavior
NHLBI, NIH (Lewis, PI) 8/1/04-7/31/08
R01 HL72947
Examining Psychosocial Mediators of Exercise Behavior
NHLBI, NIH (Marcus, PI) 11/1/05-10/31/09
R01 HL64342
Achieving Physical Activity Guidelines through an Enhanced Print Intervention
NIDA, NIH (Marcus, PI) 9/29/06-4/30/10
R01 DA21729
Using a YMCA Exercise Program to Enhance Nicotine Dependence Treatment for Women
NCCAM, NIH (Bock, PI) 8/1/07-7/31/09
R21 AT3669
Yoga for Women Attempting Smoking Cessation: An Initial Investigation
NCI, NIH (Ciccolo, PI) 8/1/08-7/31/10
R03 CA132475
Resistance Training as an Aid to Standard Smoking Cessation Treatment
NIDDK, NIH (Winett, PI) 8/1/09-7/31/13
R01 DK82383
Maintaining Resistance Training in Prediabetic Older Adults: Theoretical Approach
NCCAM, NIH (Bock, PI) 9/30/09-7/31/10
R21 AT3669-S1 Yoga for Women Attempting Smoking Cessation: An Initial Investigation
Competitive Revision: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
NIDA, NIH (Tidey, PI) 2/15/121/31/14
R21 DA31283
Acute Effects of Exercise in Smokers with Schizophrenia
Williams, D.M., Rhodes, R.E., & Conner, M.T. (2018): Affective Determinants of Health Behavior, Oxford University Press, available here on Amazon.com.
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | PhD | Virginia Tech |
| 2000 | MS | Virginia Tech |
| 1998 | BS | Richard Stockton College of New Jersey |
2004 NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Award (F32)
2007 Citation Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine
2007 NIH Loan Repayment Award for Clinical Research
2009 Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award, Virginia Tech College of Science
2012 Early Career Investigator Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine
2017 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, Brown University SPH
2018 Fellow of the Society of Behavioral Medicine
2019 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring, Brown University SPH
| PHP 2340 - Behavioral and Social Science Theory for Health Promotion |
| PHP 2345 - Affect, Emotion, and Health Behavior |
| PHP 2380 - Health Communication |
