Contact Information
1206 S Fourth St, M/C 584
Champaign, IL 61820
Research Interests
Dr. Liza Berdychevsky’s research revolves at the nexus of sexual health, positive sexuality, and wellbeing, adopting a gender-sensitive and a life course-grounded approach. Specifically, she examines two interrelated aspects of health and risk behaviors. First, she investigates sexual behavior, attitudes, risk taking, and sexual education needs among young and older adults in various leisure and tourism contexts. Second, she studies people’s experiences of violence-related behaviors and other delinquent leisure practices. She uses a variety of methodologies in her projects, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. Overall, Dr. Berdychevsky’s research contributes to a deeper understanding of the issues associated with sexual health and violence and offers directions for health education programs and prevention and intervention methods.
Research Description
Dr. Berdychevsky recently co-edited a special issue on innovation and impact of sex as leisure in research and practice in Leisure Sciences and a book on the light and dark sides of sex in tourism. She published in leading academic sexuality, health, leisure, and tourism journals (e.g., The Journal of Sex Research, The Gerontologist, Annals of Tourism Research, Tourism Management, Leisure Sciences, Leisure Studies, Annals of Leisure Research, and Journal of Leisure Research,). She serves as a consulting editor in The Journal of Sex Research, an associate editor in Leisure Sciences, and an editorial board member in Tourism Management, Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights and Annals of Leisure Research. Her research has garnered substantial media attention in various global and regional news outlets, scientific medical news websites, and popular magazines.
Education
- PhD, Health and Human Performance, University of Florida
- MBA, Business Administration, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
Additional Campus Affiliations
Associate Professor, Recreation, Sport and Tourism
Associate Professor, Program in Jewish Culture and Society
Associate Professor, Health Care Engineering Systems Center, Coordinated Science Lab
Affiliate, Center for Social and Behavioral Science
Highlighted Publications
Carr, N., & Berdychevsky, L. (Eds.) (2021). Sex in Tourism: Exploring the Light and the Dark: Exploring the Light and the Dark. (Aspects of Tourism; Vol. 93). Channel View Publications. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781845418601, https://doi.org/10.21832/CARR8595
Berdychevsky, L., & Carr, N. (Eds.) (2020). Innovation and Impact of Sex as Leisure in Research and Practice. Leisure Sciences, 42(3-4), 255-410.
Recent Publications
Fratila, I., & Berdychevsky, L. (2024). Aiming “High” in College: Phenomenological Meanings of Drug Consumption in/as Leisure through the Lens of Existential Authenticity. Leisure Sciences, 46(3), 296-314. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2021.1957728
Berdychevsky, L., Cavanaugh, D., & Dariotis, J. K. (2023). Psychological, Socio-Demographic, and Logistical Factors Associated With Changes in Sex Life After Over a Year Into the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Sexual Health, 35(2), 263-283. https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2023.2193568
Berdychevsky, L. (2023). Sex as leisure approach during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the quantity and quality of sex life. Leisure Studies, 42(4), 497-513. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2022.2115113
Berdychevsky, L. (2023). Sexual Coping Mechanisms During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Determinants of Use, Usefulness, and Effects on Sex Life. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 20(4), 1568-1591. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-023-00811-5
Berdychevsky, L. (2023). (Un)forgotten Sex Lives During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Coping Strategies That Work and the Role of Experience. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 52(8), 3343-3363. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02630-6