The HKU Family Institute is committed to scientific research, to better understand how families change, and how best to facilitate the process of change. The scope of our evidence-based research, which cover family studies in the greater China arena, has resulted in the most extensive database of video-recorded clinical data on Asian Chinese families. The director, Dr. Wai-yung Lee, has also been actively involved in the international scene in the past decade. She has been invited to present keynote speeches and presentations at areas such as Japan, Prague, and the United States.
Children's Response to Parental Conflict (January 2007 to present)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Wai-Yung Lee
Co-investigators: Dr. Ben Cheung and Prof. Man-Lun Ng
In collaboration with the Boys' and Girls' Club Association of Hong Kong (BGCA), this cross-regional empirical study involves measuring children's physiological responses while being exposed to parental conflict discussions. This design seeks to compare the child's arousal patterns to the themes and interactive patterns during the parental disagreement. Preliminary subject findings show that high arousals predominantly revolve around discussion on the quality of the couple relationship rather than on problem behaviors of the child, particularly moments when fathers fail to respond to wives' demands or responses. Findings derived from this study will shed new light on the need to understand children's problems in the family context, and the importance of developing clinically informed parent education package.
The research protocol is shared with the Shanghai Mental Health Center as well as the Kangning Hospital (Shenzhen Mental Health Center). The next stage of the study entails a comparison of findings among the three places.
Themes, interactive patterns, and gender issues in contemporary Asian couples confronted by interpersonal conflicts (June 2009 to present)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Wai-Yung Lee
Co-investigators: Dr. Shin-Ichi Nakamura and Dr. Takeshi Tamura
(Japan), Dr. Wang Hao-Wei (Taiwan), Dr. Hu Chiyi (Mainland
China), and Prof. Moon-Ja Chung and Dr. Chun Young-Ju (Korea)
This cross-regional study compares the differences and similarities in contemporary Asian couples among five regional cultures, including Japan, Korea, Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. This level of collaboration among the Asian neighbours is considered quite an achievement in itself. The results are expected to be presented at the 2nd Consortium of Institutes on Families in the Asian Region (CIFA) Symposium to be held in Tokyo, Japan in November 2010 to showcase the innovations in the Asian arena, as well as published in an international journal.
Bone Marrow Transplantation in the Context of Family - A Family Enhancement Approach (September 2006 to present)
Principal Investigators: Prof. Raymond Liang, Dr. Wai-Yung Lee, and Prof. Man-Lun Ng
This research is conducted in collaboration with the Bone Marrow Transplant medical team of the Queen Mary Hospital. The aim of the study is to help develop a more holistic treatment model for bone marrow transplant patients and their families. Family enhancement services, in the form of family assessment and consultation service, has been provided to bone marrow patients, donors, and their families, to create a more supportive and harmonious family system.
Normalization: Training Trainers in the Development of Social Services for the Multi-handicapped (September 2001 to present)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Wai-Yung Lee (with Dr. Ho-Yee Ng and Dr. Erik Kvan)
Funded by the Hong Kong University Foundation Seed Grants, this project aims at using a systemic approach to normalize the social services for persons with mental handicap. It is a two-phased joint research and training project that seeks to promote the systems perspective and the concepts of normalization in the field of mental handicap. Further, a book titled, "同樣的天空 : 智障服務及家庭工作的新藍圖," funded by the Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Mentally Handicapped, has been released as a part of this project. The final phase of the project is in the form of an ongoing training that aims to promote children's mental health in the family context and to enhance public awareness of the detrimental effect of family conflicts, both overt and hidden, on children's emotional sense of well-being and behavioral development. Four half-day workshops sponsored by the Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Mentally Handicapped were organized for front-line professionals and parents of mentally handicapped patients in 2005. The workshops were attended by a total of 600 parents and 160 front-line professionals. A Sibling Training in the form of a one-day workshop was also held at the HKU Family Institute on March 2 2008.
Study on the Practice of AAMFT Approved Supervisors outside US
Principal Investigator: Dr. Todd Edwards
Co-investigators: Dr. Wai-Yung Lee
A joint research project has been initiated between the University of San Diego (USD) and FI to study the practice of AAMFT approved supervisors outside the United States.
The Impact of Family in Treating Colorectal Cancer (September 2006 to present)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Judy Ho
Co-investigators: Dr. Samuel Ho and Dr. Wai-Yung Lee
This study aims to explore the impact of family dynamics in the treatment of colorectal cancer. This is a joint venture between medicine, hope psychology, and family therapy.
A Comparison of the Psychophysiological Responses to Gambling and Family Relations in Pathological Gamblers (February 2005 to February 2007)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Wai-Yung Lee (with Prof. Man-Lun Ng and Dr. Yuk-Lun Chen)
This project was done in collaboration with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Even Centre. This study aimed to measure and compare the psycho-physiological excitatory responses of pathological gamblers when discussing gambling, as opposed to family relations, during therapy sessions.
Asian Chinese Families in Therapy (December 2003 to November 2005)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Wai-Yung Lee (with Dr. Salvador Minuchin)
Funded by the RGC Competitive Earmarked Research Grant (CERG), this was an empirical research targeted towards studying the patterns, themes, and responses of Asian Chinese families during therapy. This study aimed to challenge some of the myths about Chinese families in therapy and examine how family therapy can be effectively conducted with Chinese families in Asia, whose cultural norms and family relationships are continually and dynamically changing.
Family Clinic (June 2001 to June 2003)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Wai-Yung Lee (with Prof. Cecilia Chan and Dr. Chi-Yue Chiu)
Funded by the HKU Foundation for Educational Development and Research, the purpose of this study was to develop an innovative family consultation service and intensive training packages on various topics. This study also aimed to consolidate the teachings and practices at the Family Clinic, which later became the HKU Family Institute, and to provide a context that covers a broad base of Asian Chinese families from children to adults to the elderly. This study also provided a foundation for our continued effort in the study of various topics and family structures in Chinese families.
Cross Cultural & Trans-disciplinary Study on Child & Adolescent Depression from a Family Perspective (November 2003 to November 2005)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Wai-Yung Lee (with Ms. Peggy Papp, Prof. Man-Lun Ng, Dr. Anita Tsang, and Dr. Chung-Fang Yang)
This study, directed by Ms. Peggy Papp of the Ackerman Institute, New York, was a joint venture with the Ackerman Institute Depression Project. The project focused on the relationship between family processes and childhood & adolescent depression. Particular interest was given on the role of culture and gender-based interactions and beliefs that sustain depression in the context of the family.
Working with Trans-generational Families (October 2003 to October 2005)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Wai-Yung Lee (with Prof. Man-Lun Ng, Dr. Cindy Lo-Kuen Lam, Prof. Iris Chi, Dr. Jerry Lai, and Dr. Chung-Fang Yang)
Funded by the University Development Fund, this project aimed to develop a family-oriented practice in working with trans-generational families involving three or more generations in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mainland China, and to study and compare themes & belief systems, patterns of interaction and dynamics of trans-generational families in these regions.
A Multi-Centre Randomized Control Trial of Combined Family Therapy and "Luncheon Sessions" in Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa (November 2002 to October 2003)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Wai-Yung Lee (with Dr. Anita Tsang and Dr. Cindy Lo-Kuen Lam)
Funded by the Committee on Research and Conference Grants (CRCG) Small Project Funding, this projects aimed to compare the effectiveness of family therapy alone and a combined family therapy and luncheon session during the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa. Factors that predicted effective therapeutic outcomes were identified and a comparison of the differences in therapeutic outcome between different parameters/subgroups of patients were made. Aside from Hong Kong, other study sites including Shanghai and Argentina participated in the investigation using the same protocol.
Angel of the Youth: A Study on Child and Adolescent Family Counseling (November 2002 to April 2004)
Principal Investigator: Dr. Wai-Yung Lee
Funded by the Centre on Behavioral Health, this project aimed to provide early identification, assessment, and family therapy to "at risk" children. It has also promoted a family-oriented approach in working with children and adolescents among local organizations through a collaborative and interdisciplinary effort during the coordination.
Ph.D. students
Ten Ph.D. students have been working on various family studies projects at the Institute.
| Name | Thesis Title |
|---|---|
| Anthony Chung-Ming Chan | Changing the male batterers - In search of the treatment path in Hong Kong |
| Simon Tak-Mau Chan | In the name of justice: Unraveling the hidden turmoil of the sons in the family triangulation |
| Wen-Tao Chao | Tracking the movement of therapeutic change process: A qualitative analysis of therapy with Taiwan families |
| Corina Shuk-Ching Fung | A case-control study of attachment style in deliberate self-harm patients: A systemic perspective |
| Chi-Yi Hu | The impacts of migration and mental disorders on suicidal behaviors: An epidemiological survey in Shenzhen, Mainland China |
| Eric Kai-Ming Lau | How cognitive-change-promoting expressive writing may relieve the adverse effects of stressful life events |
| Timothy Kin-Che Ngai | An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the relationship between depressed early adolescents and their mothers in Hong Kong |
| Ephraem Pui-Wang Tsui | Family experiences of long-term imprisonment: Suffering with hope |
| Oi-Ling Wong | Childhood obesity in a family context: An exploratory study in Hong Kong |
| Helena Suk-Yee Yuen Chan | Buddhist mediation: A transformative approach to conflict resolution |
