Pediatric Psychology

The Division of Pediatric Psychology is dedicated to advancing knowledge at the intersection of development, behavior and health. Our faculty engage in innovative, collaborative research aimed at improving the well-being of children and families facing diverse health challenges.

Major Research Themes

• Eating/Feeding Behavior and Obesity: Investigating parent-driven intervention programs, feeding skill acquisition and behavioral weight management for children and youth
• Sleep Disorders: Studying sleep issues in children with chronic illnesses, strategies to enhance adherence to sleep treatments and the interplay between sleep and health outcomes
• Chronic Illness Management: Developing and evaluating interventions to improve self-management, treatment adherence and the transition from pediatric to adult care in conditions such as cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease, diabetes and solid organ transplantation
• Developmental and Behavioral Health: Promoting neuroprotective care in infants, supporting hospitalized children and their families and improving psychosocial outcomes, including for those with complex medical needs or pain
• Differences of Sex Development (DSD): Advancing understanding of the psychosocial and quality-of-life impacts for children with DSD and developing national standards for care and shared decision-making.
• Pain Management: Early identification and intervention for children at risk of chronic pain, with a focus on multidisciplinary treatment approaches
• Health-Related Quality of Life: Investigating the factors that support resilience, mental health and overall well-being in pediatric patient populations

Our research is funded by agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the American Heart Association, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, private foundations and internal University of Michigan grants.