Specialization: Health Psychology
Dr. Grant Benham is Director of the UTRGV Stress, Sleep, & Health Lab. Born and raised in England, he emigrated to the U.S. and earned his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology in 2002 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He has received recognition for his mentorship through Psi Chi's prestigious Florence L. Denmark Faculty Advisor Award.
Dr. Benham's research involves both survey-based and lab-based research with a focus on the physical consequences of inadequate sleep and psychological stress, and variables that might mediate or moderate these relationships. His research on stress includes early adverse experiences, recent life stress, and perceived stress, along with physiological responses to acute laboratory stressors. Some of the topics currently being examined are:
- Chronic poor sleep, psychological stress, and physical health
- Factors predicting stress reactivity and recovery, based on measures of heart rate variability (HRV) and impedance cardiography (ICG).
- Sensory processing sensitivity and physical health
- Perseverative thinking (repetitive negative thinking) as a moderator of the stress-insomnia relationship
Dr. Benham has an emerging area of interest in how artificial intelligence can be leveraged for psychological research, including the growing application of machine learning.
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Professor
Accepting new students: Yes
Email:
grant.benham@utrgv.edu EIEAB 3.208
Phone: (956) 655-2807