Laura Bogart is a social psychologist who specializes in applying principles of social cognition to understanding risky health behaviors. In general, her research focuses on the influence of medical mistrust and discrimination on health behavior among African Americans, low-income individuals, and individuals with HIV.
Dr. Bogart has designed and implemented several studies in primary and secondary HIV prevention, and adherence to antiretroviral treatment for HIV; she also conducts adolescent obesity research. She currently is PI of a project examining predictors of treatment non-adherence and sexual transmission risk among African American men with HIV, with a focus on discrimination, stress, and medical mistrust; a qualitative and quantitative process evaluation of AIDS Project Los Angeles’ treatment education/advocacy program for people with HIV; and a formative research study examining sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among obese/overweight adolescents, with a focus on the home environment. She also serves as co-PI on a community-based participatory research study to design and test an intervention to promote healthy eating and physical activity among middle school students.
Previously, she was the PI of a study examining the cognitive strategies used by men who have sex with men and high-risk heterosexuals to recall sexual behaviors; Co-investigator on an NICHD grant examining the relationship of conspiracy beliefs about HIV and birth control, and perceived discrimination in health care, with sexual risk and contraceptive behaviors among African Americans; and Co-PI on a CDC-funded project evaluating the use of rapid HIV testing among medical providers in the U.S