VCU Psychology – Eric Benotsch

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Eric Benotsch

Associate professor
Director of health psychology program

Contact information

Phone: (804) 828-0133
E-mail: ebenotsch@vcu.edu

Education

Ph.D. (1998), The University of Iowa

Program affiliation

Health Psychology

Research interests

My research focuses on substance use and HIV prevention. Recent projects have examined the role of the Internet as an HIV prevention tool, the use of substances and sexual risk behavior in men who are traveling for leisure, and the relationship between literacy, numeracy, and disease progression in HIV-positive adults. One of my current projects examines the non-medical use of prescription medications in both young heterosexual adults and in gay and bisexual men. My work seeks to develop interventions that promote sexual health. I am particularly interested in novel interventions in new venues not normally accessed by prevention workers, including prevention activities with persons who are on vacation, or who meet sexual partners online.

Selected publications

Benotsch, E. G., Seal, D. W., Stevenson, L. Y., Sitzler, C., Kelly, J. A., Bogart, L. M., & Gore-Felton, C. (2008). Stigma, AIDS, and HIV prevention in Africa: Reports from community organizations providing prevention services. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 18, 329-349.

Benotsch, E. G., Nettles, C. D., Wong, F., Redmann, J., Boschini, J., Pinkerton, S. D., Ragsdale, K., & Mikytuck, J. J. (2007). Sexual risk behavior in men attending Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana. Journal of Community Health, 32, 343-356.

Benotsch, E. G., Mikytuck, J., Ragsdale, K., & Pinkerton, S. D. (2006). Sexual risk and HIV acquisition among MSM travelers to Key West, Florida: A mathematical modeling analysis. AIDS Patient Care & STDs, 20, 549-556.

Benotsch, E. G., Wright, V. J., deRoon Cassini, T. A., Pinkerton, S. D., Weinhardt, L., & Kelly, J. A. (2006). Use of the Internet for HIV prevention by AIDS service organizations in the United States. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 24, 19-35.

Benotsch, E. G., Kalichman, S., & Weinhardt, L. (2004). HIV/AIDS patients' evaluation of health information on the Internet: The digital divide and vulnerability to fraudulent claims. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 1004-1011.

More publications [PDF]

Recent/current courses taught at VCU

Health Psychology, undergraduate level

Recent grants or awards

2009-2011, Co-Investigator, National Institute of Drug Abuse
“Consequences of drug use and informative dropout on HIV/AIDS outcomes in the MACS.” The goal of this project is to examine the influence of non-ignorable drop-out in the interpretation of findings from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS).

2006-2009, Principal Investigator, National Institute of Mental Health
“HIV risk behavior in men engaged in recreational travel.” The goal of this project is to examine substance use and HIV/STD risk behaviors among tourists and to begin to identify effective interventions for use with this population.

2005-2009, Principal Investigator, National Institute of Mental Health
“Online adaptation of HIV risk-reduction interventions.” The primary goal of this project is to adapt two community-level health promotion interventions for online use.