Dr WONG, Ling Yu Anna    王靈宇 博士
Assistant Professor
Department of Health and Physical Education
Contact
ORCiD
0000-0002-8854-8542
Phone
(852) 2948 7542
Email
annawong@eduhk.hk
Address
10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong
Scopus ID
57198946540
SDGs
3 - Good Health and Well-Being
4 - Quality Education
Research Interests
  • Music for wellbeing
  • Music therapy research
  • Mental health education and promotion
Teaching Interests
  • Music, health, and wellbeing
  • School mental health education and promotion
  • Healthy ageing
  • Qualitative and mixed research methods
  • PhD / EdD in Health Studies
Personal Profile

Dr. Anna Wong is an Assistant Professor with an interdisciplinary research expertise in music, wellbeing, and education.

After obtaining a BA in Music and PhD in Education at the University of Cambridge, she worked in health and wellbeing research at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong. Key areas have included healthy ageing, school mental health, and music for wellbeing.

Anna played a leading role in several research projects in collaboration with local primary and secondary schools. She conducted the annual evaluation of “Quality Thematic Network: Promoting Wellness in School” from 2019-2022 and initiated the use of music therapy as a school-based intervention for at-risk students. She developed “Creating a Musical Third Space”, an intervention that utilises music in therapeutic and classroom spaces to address student mental health needs and strengthen their coping resources. She also designed and conducted “S.H.I.E.L.D.S.”, a programme that trains secondary school students to be peer leaders in suicide prevention and mental health promotion. 

Now at EdUHK, Anna has embarked on research in music therapy to improve the mental health and wellbeing of university students as well as older adults with dementia living in residential homes.


Education

BA (Hons) in Music, University of Cambridge, UK

MA in Education (Psychology), Institute of Education, University of London, UK

PhD in Education, University of Cambridge, UK

Other qualifications

Postgraduate Diploma in Music Therapy

Training of Trainers Certificate in Advanced Community Music Leadership, Musicians without Borders, The Netherlands

Mental Health First Aid Instructor (2022-23)

Research Interests

  • Music for wellbeing
  • Music therapy research
  • Mental health education and promotion
Teaching Interests

  • Music, health, and wellbeing
  • School mental health education and promotion
  • Healthy ageing
  • Qualitative and mixed research methods
  • PhD / EdD in Health Studies
Research Outputs

Scholarly Books, Monographs and Chapters
Wong, A. (2020). Musical engagement and psychological need satisfaction in later life: Experiences from community older musicians in Hong Kong. Betsy NG, Gloria HO, Self-determination theory and healthy aging: Comparative contexts on physical and mental well-being (75-92). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6968-5_5
SDGs infomation: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being, 5 - Gender Equality
Sun, Y., Wong, A., Chau, A. K., Wong, M., & Woo, J. (2018). Listening to the elders: The case of a bottom-up, context-sensitive place audit in Tai Po District of Hong Kong. Chao, Tzu-Yuan Stessa, Planning for greying cities: Age-friendly city planning and design research and practice (72-88). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315442884-5
SDGs infomation: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being, 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

Journal Publications
Yang, X., Jiang, X., Wong, A., Ma, L., Cai, Y., & Wang, X. (2023). Different roles of academic stress and academic expectation stress in emotional problems and internet gaming disorder among Chinese adolescents: Application of the general strain theory. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-023-01187-8
SDGs infomation: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being, 4 - Quality Education
Chan, C. H., & Wong, A. (2022). Valuing the impact of self-rated health and instrumental support on life satisfaction among the Chinese population. BMC Public Health, 22, Article 1227. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13626-7
SDGs infomation: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being, 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
Wong, A., Lai, C. C., Shum, A. K., & Yip, P. S. (2022). From the hidden to the obvious: Classification of primary and secondary school student suicides using cluster analysis. BMC Public Health, 22, Article 693. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12983-7
SDGs infomation: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being
Wong, A., Chan, I., Tsang, C. H., Chan, A. Y., Shum, A. K., Lai, E. S., & Yip, P. (2021). A local review on the use of a bio-psycho-social model in school-based mental health promotion. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, Article 691815. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.691815
SDGs infomation: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being, 4 - Quality Education
Wong, A., Szeto, S., Lung, D. W., & Yip, P. S. (2021). Diffusing innovation and motivating change: Adopting a student-led and whole-school approach to mental health promotion. Journal of School Health, 91(12), 1037-1045. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13094
SDGs infomation: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being, 4 - Quality Education
Yeung, N. C., Kan, K. K., Wong, A. L., & Lau, J. T. (2021). Self-stigma, resilience, perceived quality of social relationships, and psychological distress among Filipina domestic helpers in Hong Kong: A mediation model. Stigma and Health, 6(1), 90-99. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000246
SDGs infomation: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being, 5 - Gender Equality, 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
Qin, P., He, J., Wang, Z., Chen, X., Li, J., Fung, A.W.T., Jiang, H., Chen, J., Wong, A. and Lau, J.T.F (2020). Efavirenz use and neurocognitive performance among older people living with HIV who were on antiretroviral therapy. AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV, 32(1), 12-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2019.1622645
SDGs infomation: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being
Fang, Y., Chau, A. K., Wong, A., Fung, H. H., & Woo, J. (2018). Information and communicative technology use enhances psychological well-being of older adults: The roles of age, social connectedness, and frailty status. Aging and Mental Health, 22(11), 1516-1524. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2017.1358354
SDGs infomation: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being
Wong, A., Chau, A. K., Fang, Y., & Woo, J. (2017). Illuminating the psychological experience of elderly loneliness from a societal perspective: A qualitative study of alienation between older people and society. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(7), Article 824. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14070824
SDGs infomation: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being

Conference Papers
Wong, L.Y.A. (2025, June). Music, Movement, and Wellbeing: With Pilot Study in Hong Kong Primary Schools. [Paper presentation]. Hong Kong Physical Education Teachers Conference 2025, Hong Kong. https://tcs.edb.gov.hk/tcs/admin/courses/previewCourse/forPortal.htm?courseId=CDI020251233
SDGs infomation: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being, 4 - Quality Education
Wong, L.Y.A. (2024, November). Music for Well-being. [Keynote presentation]. The 8th HKASMSS Student Conference on Sports Medicine, Rehabilitation and Exercise Science 2024 cum Lingnan SIS SCEM Research Day 2024, Hong Kong. https://www.hkasmss.org.hk/studentconference24-programbook
SDGs infomation: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being

Projects

Creative music therapy for cognitive, social and emotional wellbeing among Hong Kong older adults living with dementia in residential care: A randomised controlled pilot
Music therapy facilitates optimal arousal among people with dementia, so they can process stimuli more effectively, resulting in reduced agitation and apathy. Even when cognitive, speech or emotion processing functions are lost, music can reach them through alternative pathways, increasing opportunities for meaningful engagement. For people with dementia, meaningful engagement can improve affect and behavioural outcomes, thereby enhancing their wellbeing and quality of life. Improving quality of life is central to dementia care. However, music therapy research for dementia in Hong Kong is scarce and urgently needed to establish evidence-based practice and inform policy for dementia care.

In collaboration with New York University’s research team that specialises in the evaluation of musical engagement in music therapy, this pilot study will evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of implementing a 12-week creative music therapy programme for people living with dementia in residential care settings. The programme’s effect on cognitive functions, social functioning, stress, mood, and musical engagement will be evaluated using physiological, behavioural, and self-report measures, as well as NYU’s newly developed Musical Engagement Scale. Music therapists, staff, and residents will be interviewed to identify key factors that influence the programme efficacy and effectiveness.

Project Start Year: 2025, Principal Investigator(s): WONG, Ling Yu, Anna
SDGs Information: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being
 
Investigating the Mechanisms Behind Guided Imagery and Music (GIM)'s Influences on Non-suicidal Self-injury (NSSI) Thought, Urge, and Related Cognitions among Adolescents and Youths Qualitative Case Studies from Hong Kong
This research study investigates the mechanisms behind Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) 's influences on thoughts or images about non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and related cognitions among adolescents and youths in Hong Kong. The study also gathers initial evidence on the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of GIM as a therapeutic intervention for at-risk adolescents and youths in our local population experiencing NSSI.
Project Start Year: 2025, Principal Investigator(s): WONG, Ling Yu, Anna
SDGs Information: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being
 
Brief Music Therapy Intervention for Stress Alleviation and Self-Care among University Students: A Pilot Study
A research study of a brief music therapy intervention for alleviating stress and increasing capacity for self-care among university students who experience a moderate to severe level of stress. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of the intervention, and to better understand participants’ experience of music therapy. All sessions are led by a registered music therapist with internationally recognised training and qualification.
Project Start Year: 2024, Principal Investigator(s): WONG, Ling Yu, Anna
SDGs Information: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being
 
Use of Music in Primary Physical Education to Enhance Skills and Wellbeing Development
This is a pilot study that explores the usage of music in physical education (PE) classes to enhance the development of junior primary students' PE skills and wellbeing. The pilot will take place in primary school(s) and will engage the PE teacher(s) in planning and selecting appropriate music for the lessons. Outcome evaluation will consist of observation, student questionnaire, and interviews with teachers and students. By the end of this study, we will develop a better understanding of the effect and experience of implementing specially chosen music for use in PE on students and teachers.
Project Start Year: 2024, Principal Investigator(s): WONG, Ling Yu, Anna
SDGs Information: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being, 4 - Quality Education
 
Integrating Physical Activity with Music to Enhance Mental Health and Wellbeing
Integrating Physical Activity with Music to Enhance Mental Health and Wellbeing is the theme of an international collaboration between the Health and Physical Education Department (HPE) at The Education University of Hong Kong (EduHK) and The Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain, University of Jyväskylä (Finland). It is funded by the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the EduHK in 2023-24 to promote knowledge exchange between the two Universities, offering academic staff the opportunities to develop cross-disciplinary knowledge and cross-cultural collaboration on the integration of physical activity with music to enhance mental health and wellbeing.
Project Start Year: 2024, Principal Investigator(s): WONG, Ling Yu, Anna
SDGs Information: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being, 4 - Quality Education