University of Florida graduate student receives grant to support parent training research

Daniel Bagner, a doctoral student in the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions’ department of clinical and health psychology, has received a grant to support his research on intervention techniques for parents of children with mental retardation.

As the recipient of a scientific research grant from the Children’s Miracle Network at Shands at the University of Florida, Bagner will receive a $3,660 award to fund research supplies and testing equipment.

Children with mental retardation have higher rates of behavior problems and if left untreated, the behavior problems can interfere with the children’s ability to learn academic, social and other life skills, Bagner said.

During his dissertation research, Bagner will examine the effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy as a parent intervention technique for addressing behavior problems in these children in a clinical trial setting. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy was developed by Bagner’s research adviser, Sheila Eyberg, Ph.D., a professor in the clinical and health psychology department.