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Dr. LAI Chuk Ling Julian (黎祝齡博士)

B.Sc. (Toronto)
Ph.D. (Hong Kong)
FHKPS
RP(HKPS)
CPsychol

Associate Professor

Contact Information

Office: LI-5664 AC2
Phone: 34424306
Fax: 34420283
Email: julian.lai@cityu.edu.hk

Research Interests

  • Optimism, Resilience, and Health
  • Psychosocial Determinants of Neuroendocrine Function
  • Cortisol and Biological Ageing
Dr. Julian Lai obtained his Bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Toronto. He joined the City University of Hong Kong to start his research career after graduating from the University of Hong Kong with a Ph.D. in psychoneuroimmunology. In addition to research on the psychophysiology of stress, he also engaged in research on topics associated with personality and social psychology, health psychology, and environmental psychology. One of Dr. Lai's major contributions is the adoption of salivary cortisol as a biomarker to examine the health impact of personal and interpersonal characteristics in Chinese populations. He is also one of the few scholars who pioneered research on the psychosocial determinants of pro-environmental behavior in the Chinese people. His major publications appear primarily in international journals in psychology. Dr. Lai has been serving as an expert reviewer for a number of prestigious journals in psychology and related disciplines. He was the Editor of the official journal of the Hong Kong Psychological Society (2009-2012) and is a former president of the Hong Kong Psychological Society (2004-2005). He has been a fellow of the Center on Behavioral Health of the University of Hong Kong since 2021, and is an affiliate fellow of the Wofoo Joseph Lee Consulting and Counseling Psychology Research Center, Lingnan Unversity.

Dr. Lai also has extensive experience in teaching and program planning, especially in taught postgraduate programs. He served as the program leader of the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology for a number of years and was in charge of converting the program to the MSocSc in Applied Psychology in 2009. He has been serving as the program leader of the master program until 2018. Dr. Lai's teaching expertise concentrates in areas such as biological psychology, behavioral neuroscience, neuropsychology, and social psychology (e.g., the interaction between the social environment and psychological processes in determining risk perception). He has also served as the external examiner of various courses and programs offered by other universities in Hong Kong.


Awards and Achievements

  • 1995 “Outstanding PhD thesis of Congregation 1995” The University of Hong Kong Libraries. Thesis title: "The Effects of Examination Stress on Secretory Immunity".
  • Sep 2021 “Fellow” Center on Behavioral Health, University of Hong Kong.
  • 2011 “Interdisciplinary Professional Development Award: Law, Reasoning, and Morality: A Critical Analysis” City University of Hong Kong.


Previous Experience

  • 1989 - 1993, Demonstrator, Department of Psychology, the University of Hong Kong.


Research Grants

  • Effects of a Mindfulness-based Yoga Intervention on Stress and Salivary Cortisol: A Study with Cancer Patients in Hong Kong, SRG-Fd, City University of Hong Kong, Amount: HKD $100,000, 1 Sep 2023 - 30 Aug 2024, Julian LAI (PI), Yan Kate CHOW (Co-I), Kwan Ting CHOW (Co-I).
  • To enhance wellness with yoga: A pilot randomized controlled trial , SRG-Fd, City University of Hong Kong, Amount: HKD $88,060, 1 Sep 2022 - 30 Apr 2023, Julian LAI (PI).
  • Biomarking Psychological Resilience with Salivary Cortisol in Chinese Undergraduates using Piecewise Linear Growth Curve Models , GRF, RGC, Amount: HKD $305,705, 1 Jan 2022 - 30 Jun 2024, Julian LAI (PI), Hui-fang CHEN (Co-I), Benjiman YEE (Co-I).
  • Social Network Cultivation, Diurnal Cortisol, and Telomere Length: Testing the Rejuvenation Hypothesis , GRF, RGC, Amount: HKD $385,000, Jan 2020 - Jun 2021, Julian Lai (PI), Lam Yun Wah (Co-I), Esther Chow (Co-I).
  • Loneliness and Diurnal Cortisol Profiles in Chinese Elders, 7004955, City University of Hong Kong, Amount: HKD $100,000, 1 Sep 2017 - 31 Aug 2019, Julian Lai (PI), Alice Chong (AI), Lam Yun Wah (AI).
  • Age Differences in Diurnal Cortisol Profiles, Strategic Research Grant, City University of Hong Kong, Amount: HKD $100,000, 1 Sep 2016 - 31 Aug 2018, Julian Lai (PI), Alice Chong Ming Lin (AI), Lam Yun Wah (AI).
  • Psychological Resilience and the Cortisol Awakening Response in Chinese Undergraduates, Strategic Research Grant, City University of Hong Kong, Amount: HKD $99,000, 1 Sep 2015 - 31 Aug 2017, Julian Lai (PI), Lam Yun Wah (AI).
  • Independent and interactive effects of positive and negative psychological dispositions on well-being , GRF, RGC, Amount: HKD $529,650, Jul 2009 - Dec 2011, Dr. LAI, Chuk Ling Julian(PI).
  • The Pathology of Environmental Crisis, La Trobe University, Amount: AUS $34,624, Jan 2008 - Dec 2009, Dr. LAI, Chuk Ling Julian(PI), Dr. LO, Y S Norva (PI).
  • Psychosocial Determinants of Neuroendocrine Function in the Elderly, Strategic Research Grant, City University of Hong Kong, Amount: HKD $175,175, Sep 2007 - Mar 2009, Dr. LAI, Chuk Ling Julian(PI).
  • Impact of Activation of Optimistic Cognitions on the Processing of Positive and Negative Information , GERG, RGC, Amount: HKD $369,058, Dec 2004 - Sep 2006, Dr. LAI, Chuk Ling Julian(PI).


Publications Show All Publications Show Prominent Publications


Journal

  • Lai, Chuk Ling. Julian. , Fan, Yuying. , Man, Hoi. Yun. & Huang, Yi. (Spring 6 Apr 2023). Childhood adversity and depression in Chinese populations: A multilevel meta-analysis of studies using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 84.10352. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103582
  • Venero, Cesar. , Grippo, Angela. J. & Lai, Julian. Chuk-ling. (Summer 10 Aug 2022). Editorial: Endocrinology of loneliness and social isolation. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. 16-2022. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2022.978386
  • Lai, Chuk Ling. Julian. & Rochelle, Tina. L. (Summer 24 Aug 2021). Editorial: Resilience and Health in the Chinese People During the COVID-19 Outbreak. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 12-2021. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.742960
  • Lai, Chuk Ling. Julian. , Lee, Daryl. Y. H,. & Leung, Monique. O. Y. (Winter 23 Dec 2020). Childhood Adversities and Salivary Cortisol Responses to the Trier Social Stress Test: A Systematic Review of Studies Using the Children Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18, 29. doi:10.3390/ijerph18010029
  • Lai, Chuk Ling. Julian. , Leung, Monique. O. Y. , Lee, Daryl. Y. H,. , Lam, Yun. Wah. & Berning, Karsten. (Fall 26 Oct 2020). Biomarking Trait Resilience With Salivary Cortisol in Chinese Undergraduates. Frontiers in Psychology. 11. 536510. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.536510
  • Lai, Julian. Chuk Ling. , Leung, Monique. On Yee. , Lee, Daryl. Yu Heng. , Lam, Yun Wah. & Berning, Karsten. (12 Jul 2019). Daily hassles, loneliness, and diurnal salivary cortisol in emerging adults. Hormones and Behavior. 115. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.07.006
  • Lai, Julian. C L. & Lee, Daryl. Y H. (2019). Network cultivation, diurnal cortisol and biological ageing: The rejuvenation hypothesis. Medical Hypotheses. 122. 1 - 4. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2018.09.041
  • Lai, Julian. C L. , Leung, Monique. On Yee. , Lee, Daryl. Yu Heng. , Lam, Yun. Wah. & Berning, Karsten. (2018). Loneliness and Diurnal Salivary Cortisol in Emerging Adults. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 19. doi:doi:10.3390/ijms19071944
  • Lai, Julian. C L. , Lam, Yun. Wah. , Berning, Karsten. , Leung, Monique. & Lee, Daryl. Y H. (2017). Loneliness and diurnal salivary cortisol in Chinese undergraduates. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 83S. 17 - 18. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.07.286
  • Lai, Julian. C L. , Evans, Phil. & Chong, Alice. M L. (2017). Social Network Cultivation and Diurnal Cortisol Profiles in Healthy Chinese Elders. Neuropsychiatry (London). 7/6. 961 - 967. doi:10.4172/Neuropsychiatry.1000303
  • Xu, L. Z. , Liu, L. J. , Li, S. X. , Yue, X. D. , Lai, J. & Lu, L. (2016). Short photoperiod condition increases susceptibility to stress in adolescent male rats. Behavioural Brain Research. 300. 38 - 44. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2015.12.002
  • Lai, Julian. , Evans, Phil. , Chan, Cecilia. , Ho, Rainbow. & Chong, Alice. (2015). Motivation to strengthen the social ties rejuvenates the diurnal cortisol profiles in Chinese elders. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 61. 50 - 51. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.07.527
  • Lai, J. C. L. , Yue, Xiaodong. & Li, Suxia. (2014). Physical health outcomes of conjugal bereavement: A psychoneuroendocrine model of resilience. Pharmaceutica Analytica Acta. 5:2. doi:10.4172/2153-2435.1000284
  • Lai, J. C. L. (2014). Psychosocial stress and salivary cortisol in older people: A brief review. Journal of Aging Science. 2:2. 120 doi:10.4172/2329-8847.1000120
  • Lai, J. C. L. & Yue, Xiaodong. (2014). Using the Brief Resilience Scale to assess Chinese people's ability to bounce back from stress. Sage Open. doi:http://sgo.sagepub.com/content/4/4/2158244014554386
  • Cheng, S. T. , Lau, R. W. L. , Mak, E. P. M. , Ng, N. S. S. , Lam, L. C. W. , Fung, H. H. , Lai, J. C. L. , Kwok, T. & Lee, D. T. F. (2012). A benefit-finding intervention for family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer disease: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 13. 98 doi:http://www.trialsjournal.com/content/13/1/98
  • Cromm, K. & Lai, J. C. L. (2012). Does personal resilience predict higher quality of life of dialysis patients across culture?. Psychology & Health. 27 (Supplement Aug 2012). 188 .
  • Cromm, K. & Lai, J. C. L. (2012). Resilience resources predict higher quality of life (QOL) among Taiwanese dialysis patients. Value in Health. 15(7). A671 .
  • Lai, J. C.L. , Chong, A. , Siu, T. S. , Evans, P. , Chan, C. LW. & Ho, R. TH. (2012). Social network characteristics and salivary cortisol in healthy older people. The Scientific World Journal. doi:Dio:10.1100/2012/929067
  • Ng, S. H. & Lai, J. (2011). Bicultural selves, multiple ingroup identities, and dual patriotisms among Chinese in Hong Kong. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology. 42(1). 89 - 103.
  • Ng, S. H. , Han, S. , Mao, L. & Lai, J. (2010). Dynamic bicultural brains: fMRI study of the flexible neural representation of self and significant others in response to cultural primes. Asian Journal of Social Psychology. 13. 83 - 91.
  • Lai, J.C.L. , Chong, A.M.L. , Siu, O.T. , Evan, P. , Chan, C.L.W. & Ho., R.T.H. (2010). Humor attenuates the cortisol awakening response in healthy older men. Biological Psychology. 84. 375 - 380.
  • Lai, J.C.L. (2009). Dispositional optimism buffers the impact of daily hassles on mental health in chinese adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences. 47. 247 - 249.
  • Ng, S. H. & Lai, J. C. L. (2009). Effects of cultural priming on the social connectedness of the bicultural self: A self-reference effect approach. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology. 40(2). 170 - 186.
  • Lai, C. L. (2007). Biculturalism in Chinese societies. Journal of Psychology in Chinese Societies. 8(2). 91 - 99.
  • Lai, J.C.L. & Tao, J. (2006). Perception of environmental risks among the Chinese people. International Journal of Environmental, Cultural. Economic and Social Sustainability. 1(5). 125 - 138.
  • Chan, W.S. , Lai, C.L. & Wong, K.W.N. (2006). Resilience is associated with better recovery in Chinese people diagnosed with coronary heart disease. Psychology & Health. 21(3). 335 - 349.
  • Chan, C. L. W. , Tso, I. F. , Ho, R. T. H. , Ng, S. M. , Chan, C. H. Y. , Chan, J. C. N. , Lai, J. C. L. & Evans, P. D. (2006). The effect of a one-hour Eastern stress management session on salivary cortisol. Stress & Health. 22. 45 - 49.
  • Lai, J.C.L. , Evans, P. , Ng, S.H. , Chong, A.M.L. , Siu, O.T. , Chan, C.L.W. , Ho, S.Y.M. , Ho, R.T.H. , Chan, P. & Chan, C.C. (2005). Optimism, positive affectivity, and salivary cortisol. British Journal of Health Psychology. 10. 467 - 484.
  • Lai, J. C. L. & Cheng, S. T. (2004). Health beliefs, optimism and health-related decisions: A study with Hong Kong Chinese. Intenational Journal of Psychology. 39. 179 - 189.
  • Lai, J. C. L. , Brennan, A. , Chan, H. M. & Tao, J. (2003). Disposition toward environmental hazards in Hong Kong Chinese: Validation of a Chinese version of the Environmental Appraisal Inventory (EAI-C). Journal of Environmental Psychology. 23. 369 - 384.
  • Lai, J. C. L. & Tao, J. (2003). Perception of environmental hazards in Hong Kong Chinese. Risk Analysis: An International Journal. 23. 669 - 684.
  • Lai, J. C. L. & Chan, K. H. R. (2002). The effects of job-search motives and coping on psychological health and reemployment: A study with unemployed Hong Kong Chinese. International Journal of Human Resource Management. 13. 465 - 483.
  • Lai, J. C. L. , Chan, J. Y.Y. , Cheung, W. L. R. & Law, S. Y. W. (2001). Psychosocial development and self-esteem among traditional-aged university students in Hong Kong. Journal of College Student Development. 42. 68 - 78.
  • Lai, J. C. L. & Yue, X. D. (2000). Measuring optimism in Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese with the revised Life Orientation Test. Personality & Individual Differences. 28. 781 - 796.
  • Wan, W. W. , Luk, C. L. & Lai, J. C. L. (2000). Personality correlates of loving styles among Chinese students in Hong Kong. Personality & Individual Differences. 26. 169 - 175.
  • Lai, J. C. L. & Wong, W. S. (1998). Optimism and coping with unemployment among Hong Kong Chinese women. Journal of Research in Personality. 32. 454 - 479.
  • Lai, J. C L. (1997). Relative predictive power of the optimism versus the pessimism index of a Chinese version of the Life Orientation Tes. Psychological Record. 47. 399 - 410.
  • Lai, J. C. L. (1996). Perceived stress and physical symptoms: The problem of the response set of social desirability in Hong Kong undergraduates. Psychologia. 39. 50 - 54.
  • Lai, J. C. L. (1995). The moderating effect of optimism on the relation between hassles and somatic complaints. Psychological Reports. 76. 883 - 894.
  • Lai, J. C. L. (1994). Differential predictive power of the positively versus the negatively worded items of the Life Orientation Test. Psychological Reports. 75. 1507 - 1515.
  • Spinks, J. A. , Wong, M. M. F. , Chan, C. C. & Lai, J. C. L. (1994). Examination anxiety and the immune system: A report on studies of Hong Kong students under stres. International Journal of Psychophysiology. 18:2. 149 .

Conference Paper

  • Lai, J. C. L. , Lo, N. & Brennan, A. (2011). Chinese worldview and environmental attitudes. Conference on Psychology and Social Harmony. 1. (pp. 242 - 250). Wuhan. China: .
  • Lai, C. L. J. & Wan, K. Y. K. (2009). Trait anxiety accentuates the cortisol awakening response. 3rd International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering, iCBBE 2009. 5163695. Beijing. China: .

Book

  • Lai, C. L. (Ed.). (2007). Special issue: The psychology of biculturalism in Chinese societies. (Journal of Psychology in Chinese Societies ed.). vol. 8, no. 2. Hong Kong:  The Chinese University Press.

Book Chapter

  • Chan, H. M. , Tse, M. W D. , Wong, K. H. , Lai, J. C. L. & Chui, C. K. (2015). End-of-life decision making in Hong Kong: The appeal of the shared decision making model. Family-oriented informed consent, Philosophy and Medicine. (pp. 149 - 167). Switzerland. Springer International. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-12120-8_10
  • Lai, C. L. J. (2007). Psychological impact of economic restructuring in Hong Kong. In A. B. I. Bernardo, M. C. Gastardo-Conaco, & M. E. C. D. Liwag (Eds.), Progress in Asian Social Psychology Vol. 5: The self, relationships, and subjective well-being in Asia. Psychological, social, and cultural perspectives. (pp. 307 - 352). Seoul, Korea. Kyoyook-Kwahak-Sa Publishing Company.


External Services


Public Service

  • Dec 2017 - Dec 2020, Specialist in Psychology, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications.Hong Kong.
  • 2016 - 2018, Director, The Hong Kong Psychological Society Limited.Hong Kong.
  • 2011 - 2017, Member of the Panel of Adjudicators, The Obscene Articles Tribunal .Hong Kong.

Professional Activity

  • 2 Apr 2022 - Now, Associate Editor, Frontiers in Psychiatry.Hong Kong SAR.
  • 2 Apr 2022 - Now, Associate Editor, Frontiers in Public Health.Hong Kong SAR.
  • 2 Apr 2022 - Now, Associate Editor, Frontiers in Sociology.Hong Kong SAR.
  • 2009 - 2012, Editor of The Journal of Psychology in Chinese Societies , The Hong Kong Psychological Society.Hong Kong.
  • 2009 - 2014, External Examiner, School of Arts and Social Sciences, the Hong Kong Open University.Hong Kong.
  • 2006 - 2009, Associate Editor of The Journal of Psychology in Chinese Societies, The Hong Kong Psychological Society.Hong Kong.

Consultancy Service

  • 2020 - 2022, Affiliate Fellow, Wofoo Joseph Lee Consulting and Counseling Psychology Research Center, Lingnan University.Hong Kong.
  • 2016 - 2022, External Academic Advisor, Department of Applied Psychology, Lingnan University of Hong Kong.Hong Kong.
  • Mar 2009, Member of Validation Panel for Master of Social Sciences in Counselling Psychology offered by Hong Kong Shue Yan University , Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications.Hong Kong.

Community Service

  • 2007, Consultant, 屯门區扶貧工作小組: Tuen Mun District Council .Hong Kong.


Service in CityU


Administrative Assignment

  • 2008 - 2012, Department Staffing Committee, Member.
  • 2000 - 2012, Departmental Advisory Committee , Member.
  • 2000 - 2012, Departmental Executive Committee, Member.

Research / Thesis Supervision

  • 1 Sep 2018 - 30 Jun 2019, Wiliam James College, Newton, Massachusetts, US, Doctoral Project Committee Member.
  • 2012 - 2013, Dr. Ye Jiawen, PhD thesis: A Comparative Study of the Effects of an Intermediary on the Trust Decisions and Perception of Chinese and Westerners.
  • 2007 - 2009, Ms Kitty Wan Kit Ying, MPhil thesis: Coping Affects Neuroendocrine Response to Psychosocial Stress .
  • 2004 - 2006, Ms Chan Wing Sum, MPhil thesis: Posttraumatic Growth among Healthcare Workers after SARS.

Teaching Service

  • 2009 - 2019, Undergaduate, Social Risk Analysis.
  • 2008 - Now, Undergraduate, Basic Psychology II.
  • 2001 - Now, Undergraduate, Biological Psychology.
  • 2001 - 2009, Undergraduate, Cognitive Psychology.
  • 2000 - Now, Undergraduate, Neuropsychology.
  • 1994 - Now, Taught Postgraduate, Biological Basis of Behavior.
  • 1994 - 2009, Taught Postgraduate, Perception and Cognition.

Conferences Attended

  • 7 Sep 2017 - 9 Sep 2017, The 47th Annual conference of the International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • 23 Mar 2017 - 25 Mar 2017, International Convention of Psychological Science , Vienna, Austria.
  • 8 Jul 2014 - 13 Jul 2014, 28th International Congress of Applied Psychology, France.
  • 9 Nov 2012 - 11 Nov 2012, 2nd China International Conference on Positive Psychology, China.
  • 11 Jul 2010 - 16 Jul 2010, 28th International Congress of Applied Psychology, Australia.
  • 20 Jul 2008 - 25 Jul 2008, XXIX International Congress of Psychology, Germany.


Last update date : 22 Jun 2024