I’m Kristen Harrison.

I direct the FaMLab.

Since the early 1990s, I have conducted research on the relationship between media use and child and adolescent outcomes such as violence and aggression, body image and disordered eating, body mass and dietary intake, obesity, nutritional knowledge, healthy eating schemas, child feeding practices, sexual objectification, sexual behavior, AIDS stigma, media literacy and health literacy, self-esteem, problematic child media use, family media conflict, sleep, self-esteem and identity, and the use of media devices and content for sensory regulation among typically developing and neurodivergent children.

I am a Fellow of the International Communication Association and my work has been funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and the William T. Grant Foundation, among others.

I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome in early adulthood and now identify as autistic. I have a keen interest in working to help my colleagues in higher education better accommodate the executive function needs of neurodivergent learners and support our collective creativity.