Amy Bryan
- Director (Academic)
- Human Development & Family Sciences
- Human Ecology
Contact Information
Biography
Dr. Bryan has taught a variety of undergraduate courses in Human Development and Family Sciences. Prior to working at UT, she enjoyed successful careers in teaching, school counseling, and social work. In addition to serving as the director of the Priscilla Pond Flawn Child and Family Laboratory, Dr. Bryan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist, and clinical supervisor in private practice. Dr. Bryan's research and clinical interests include early childhood development, education, and mental health—especially understanding and strengthening caregiver-child relationships.
Research
Currently, Dr. Bryan is committed to developing a research program at the Priscilla Pond Flawn Child and Family Laboratory (PPFCFL). In addtion to working to increase the number and diversity of faculty and students who use the PPFCFL for research, Dr. Bryan is developing methods for systematically collecting and storing data on the children, families, and university students served by the PPFCFL. In collaboration with colleagues in HDFS, she is selecting measures and creating a database to make PPFCFL data valuable and accessible to course instructors and researchers. Ultimately, her goal is to develop a longitudinal dataset, rich with both qualitative and quantitative data. This will allow PPFCFL faculty to design studies and to collaborate with faculty at other lab schools around the country in a research consortium.
Fields of Interest
- Child and Adolescent Health
- Contexts of Human Development
- Infancy and Childhood
- Parenting & Caregiving
Education
- BS, Applied Learning and Development/Early Childhood Education, University of Texas at Austin
- MSSW, Clinical Work with Children, Adolescents and Families, University of Texas at Austin
- PhD, Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin
Publications
Sekula, M.K., Bryan, A.E., Corry, K., Kassymova, A. & Byrd-Williams, C.E. (2024). Effects of Growing Up Wild™ Training on Early Childhood Professionals’ Beliefs, Attitudes, and Intentions toward Outdoor Education. Early Childhood Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-024-01817-3
Koepp, A.E, Lanza, K., Byrd-Williams, C., Bryan, A.E., & Gershoff, E.T. (2023). Ambient temperature increases and preschoolers’ outdoor physical activity. JAMA Pediatrics, 177(5), 539-540. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.0067
Koepp, A.E, Gershoff, E.T., Castelli, D.M., & Bryan, A.E. (2022). Total play time needed for preschoolers to reach recommended amount of non-sedentary activity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (6), 3354. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063354
Koepp, A.E, Gershoff, E.T, Castelli, D.M., & Bryan, A.E. (2022). Measuring children's behavioral regulation in the preschool classroom: An objective, sensor-based approach. Developmental Science, 25(5), e13214. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13214
Koepp, A.E, Gershoff, E.T., Castelli, D M., & Bryan, A.E. (2022). Preschoolers’ executive functioning following indoor and outdoor play. Trends in Neuroscience and Education, 28, 100182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tine.2022.100182
Bryan, A.E. (2010). Mothers’ emotions as predictors of toddlers’ autonomous behaviors. Texas Scholar Works: UT Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Available from http://hdl.handle.net/2152/ETD-UT-2010-12-2049.
Bryan, A.E. & Dix, T. (2009). Mothers’ emotions and behavioral support during interactions with toddlers: The role of child temperament. Social Development, 18, 647-670. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9507.2008.00502.x
Saunders, R., Manheimer, J., Bryan, A.E., Jacobvitz, D. & Hazen, N. (2005). Overcoming negative early experiences with parents: Pathways to earned security [translated into Italian]. Psicoterapiae Scienze Umane. Monograph on Attachment.
Awards
- 2016 & 2018 Faculty Appreciation Award, University of Texas at Austin, Office of Services for Students with Disabilities