Dr HOU, Wai Kai    侯維佳 博士
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
Centre Director
Centre for Psychosocial Health
Contact
ORCiD
0000-0003-1402-2318
Phone
(852) 2948 8841
Email
wkhou@eduhk.hk
Address
10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong
Scopus ID
35147323500
Research Interests

Everyday life processes and mechanisms of stress resilience

Social and environmental determinants

Public mental health

Psychometrics and psychological assessment

Teaching Interests

Emotion

Public mental health

Stress and coping

Psychological testing and assessment

External Appointments

2022 to present             Fellow (elected), Association for Psychological Science

2021 to present             Consulting Editor, Journal of Stress, Trauma, Anxiety, and Resilience

2021 to present             Member, International Trauma Consortium

2021 to present             Deputy/Section Editor, Stress and Health

2020 to present             Associate Editor, Frontiers in Psychology (Health Psychology section)

2021 to present             Guest Associate Editor, Frontiers in Communication

2018 to present             Member, SIG – Stress, Adaptation and Resilience, American Education Research Association (AERA)

2017 to present             Member, American Psychological Association Division 52 (International Psychology)

2017 to present             Member, Association for Psychological Science

2015 to present             Member and National Representative (Hong Kong SAR, China), Stress, Trauma, Anxiety, and Resilience Society (STAR Society)

2013 to present             Founding Member, Hong Kong Society of Behavioral Health

2011 to present             Member, American Psychological Association Division 38 (Health Psychology)

Other Activities

Concentration Studies Academic Advisor (CSAA)

- College of International Education, Hong Kong Baptist University 


Academic Programme Review Panel Member, HKCAAVQ

- Tung Wah College (April 2022)

- Hang Seng University Hong Kong Learning Programme Accreditation (September 2020)


Review Board/Referee Panel (ongoing)

- Examiner of theses for Ph.D.

Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China (2020)

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati 781039, India (2020-2021)

- Publications and Communications Board for Psychological Assessment (2020), American Psychological Association

- General Research Fund, Early Career Scheme, and Faculty Development Scheme RGC, UGC, Hong Kong SAR, China

- Health and Medical Research Fund Research Fund Secretariat, Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong SAR, China

- Health Services Research Competitive Research Grant National Medical Research Council (NMRC), Singapore

- Israel Science Foundation Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Israel

- Multi-Year Research Grant Research Services and Knowledge Transfer Office, University of Macau, Macau SAR

Personal Profile

In his work, Dr. Hou seeks to integrate multiple levels of analyses for explicating the psychology and ecology of stress. His current research focuses on understanding everyday processes and mechanisms pertinent to adaptation and resilience. Other topics he focuses on include emotional processes and flexibility, social and environmental determinants of health, public mental health, and psychological and social adaptation among people with chronic medical conditions and their caregivers.

Research Interests

Everyday life processes and mechanisms of stress resilience

Social and environmental determinants

Public mental health

Psychometrics and psychological assessment

Teaching Interests

Emotion

Public mental health

Stress and coping

Psychological testing and assessment

External Appointments

2022 to present             Fellow (elected), Association for Psychological Science

2021 to present             Consulting Editor, Journal of Stress, Trauma, Anxiety, and Resilience

2021 to present             Member, International Trauma Consortium

2021 to present             Deputy/Section Editor, Stress and Health

2020 to present             Associate Editor, Frontiers in Psychology (Health Psychology section)

2021 to present             Guest Associate Editor, Frontiers in Communication

2018 to present             Member, SIG – Stress, Adaptation and Resilience, American Education Research Association (AERA)

2017 to present             Member, American Psychological Association Division 52 (International Psychology)

2017 to present             Member, Association for Psychological Science

2015 to present             Member and National Representative (Hong Kong SAR, China), Stress, Trauma, Anxiety, and Resilience Society (STAR Society)

2013 to present             Founding Member, Hong Kong Society of Behavioral Health

2011 to present             Member, American Psychological Association Division 38 (Health Psychology)

Other Activities

Concentration Studies Academic Advisor (CSAA)

- College of International Education, Hong Kong Baptist University 


Academic Programme Review Panel Member, HKCAAVQ

- Tung Wah College (April 2022)

- Hang Seng University Hong Kong Learning Programme Accreditation (September 2020)


Review Board/Referee Panel (ongoing)

- Examiner of theses for Ph.D.

Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China (2020)

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati 781039, India (2020-2021)

- Publications and Communications Board for Psychological Assessment (2020), American Psychological Association

- General Research Fund, Early Career Scheme, and Faculty Development Scheme RGC, UGC, Hong Kong SAR, China

- Health and Medical Research Fund Research Fund Secretariat, Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong SAR, China

- Health Services Research Competitive Research Grant National Medical Research Council (NMRC), Singapore

- Israel Science Foundation Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Israel

- Multi-Year Research Grant Research Services and Knowledge Transfer Office, University of Macau, Macau SAR

Prizes and awards

Fellow
The APS is the global scientific home of more than 25,000 leading psychological science researchers, practitioners, teachers, and students across all continents. It aims to advance scientific psychology across disciplinary and geographic borders.
Date of receipt: /4/2022, Conferred by: Association for Psychological Science (APS)
 
President's Award for Outstanding Performance in Research (Early Career Research Excellence Award)

Date of receipt: 14/5/2018, Conferred by: Education University of Hong Kong
 
Fulbright-RGC Hong Kong Senior Research Scholar Award
This Fulbright-Hong Kong Award Program supports scholars in Hong Kong to undertake research and lecture activities in the United States in the fields of the arts, humanities and social sciences, ranging from a period of four to ten months at major universities and research institutes in the United States.
Date of receipt: 9/5/2016, Conferred by: U.S. Department of State; Research Grants Council
 
Outstanding Assistant Professor Award
Strategic Recruitment for Outstanding Assistant Professor
Date of receipt: 1/7/2012, Conferred by: The Hong Kong Institute of Education
 
Research Outputs

Scholarly Books, Monographs and Chapters
Chapter in an edited book (author)
Hobfoll, S. E., Hall, B. J., & Hou, W. K. (2020). Addressing the Immediate Aftermath of Mass Casualty: Focusing on Long Term History and Vulnerability. E. Vermetten, I. Frankova, L. Carmi, O. Chaban, & J. Zohar, Risk Management of Terrorism Induced Stress: Guidelines for the Golden Hours (Who, What and When) (145-151). Amsterdam: IOS Press BV.
Hou, W. K., Hall, B. J., & Hobfoll, S. E. (2018). Drive to thrive: A theory of resilience following loss. In N. Morina & A. Nickerson (Eds.), Mental Health in Refugee and Post-Conflict Populations (111-133). Cham: Springer.
Hou, W. K. (2010). Distinct and common issues in the psychosocial adaptation to cancer across cultures. In J. E. Jenkins (Ed.), Colorectal Cancer: Risk, Diagnosis and Treatments (1-50). New York: Nova Science Publishers.

Journal Publications
Publication in refereed journal
Lee, T. M. C., Liang, L., Hou, W. K., Tse, A. H. Y., & Chan, C. C. H. (2023). The Chinese “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” Test: A study with normal adults, and adults with Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 89, Article 103785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103785
Liang, L., Bonanno, G. A., Hougen, C., Hobfoll, S. E., & Hou, W. K. (2023). Everyday life experiences for evaluating post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 14(2). Article 2238584. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2238584
Sun, R., Balabanova, A., Bajada, C. J., Liu, Y., Kriuchok, M., Voolma, S.-R., Đurić, M., Mayer, C.-H., Constantinou, M., Chichua, M., Li, C., Foster-Estwick, A., Borg, K., Hill, C., Kaushal, R., Diwan, K., Vitale, V., Engels, T., Aminudin, R., . . . Sauter, D. (2024). Emotional experiences and psychological well-being in 51 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emotion, 24(2), 397-411. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001235
Blachnio, A., Przepiórka, A., Cudo, A., Angeluci, A., Ben-Ezra, M., Durak, M., Kaniasty, K., Mazzoni, E., Senol-Durak, E., Hou, W.K., & Benvenuti, M. (2023). Self-Control and Digital Media Addiction: The Mediating Role of Media Multitasking and Time Style. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 16, 2283-2296.. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S408993
Harrison, M. G., & Hou, W. K. (2023). The subjective wellbeing of expatriate international school teachers in Hong Kong: An exploratory study into the influence of school-level factors. Journal of Research in International Education, 22(1), 39-54. https://doi.org/10.1177/14752409231154531
Liu, H., Lau, E. K. L., Mok, A. Y. C., & Hou, W. K. (2023). Measuring everyday adaptation after imprisonment: The post-release living inventory for ex-prisoners (PORLI-ex). International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 23(2) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2022.100352
Tao, T. J., Lim, T. K., Yeung, E. T. F., Liu, H., Shris, P. B., Ma, L. K. Y., Lee, T. M. C., & Hou, W. K. (2023). Internet-based and mobile-based cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis. npj Digital Medicine, 6 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-023-00809-8
Tao, T. J., Liang, L., Liu, H., Hobfoll, S. E., Hou, W. K., Bonanno, G. E. (2023). The interrelations between psychological outcome trajectories and resource changes amid large-scale disasters: A growth mixture modeling analysis. Translational Psychiatry, 13 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-023-02350-4
Ho, H. C. Y., Hou, W. K., Poon, K. T., Leung, A. N. M., & Kwan, J. L. Y. (2022). Being virtuous together: A one-year prospective study on organizational virtuousness, well-being, and organizational commitment. Applied Research in Quality of Life https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-022-10094-4
Man, I. S. C., Shao, R., Hou, W. K., Li, S. X., Liu, F. Y., Lee, M., Wing, Y. K, Yau, S. Y., & Lee, T. M. C. (2022). Multi-systemic evaluation of biological and emotional responses to the Trier Social Stress Test: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 68 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2022.101050
Vagnini, D., Hou, W. K., Hougen, C., Prous, A. C., Bonanomi, A., Facchin, F., Molgora, S., Pagnini, F., & Saita, E. (2022). The impact of COVID-19 perceived threat and restrictive measures on mental health in Italy, Spain, New York, and Hong Kong: An international multisite study. Frontiers in Psychology, 13 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1002936
Lai, F. T. T., Chen, V. K. Y., Li, T. W., Li, X., Hobfoll, S. E., Lee, T. M. C., & Hou, W. K. (2022). Disrupted daily routines mediate the socioeconomic gradient of depression amid public health crises: A repeated cross-sectional study. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 56, 1320-1331. https://doi.org/10.1177/00048674211051271
Tao, T. J., Lee, T. M. C., Fung, A. L. C., Li, T. W., Ettman, C. K., Galea, S., & Hou, W. K. (2022). Low assets predict persistent depression through living difficulties amid large-scale disasters: A cohort study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 315, 282-290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.040
Li, T. W., Liang, L., Ho, P. L., Yeung, E. T. F., Hobfoll, S. E., & Hou, W. K. (2022). Coping resources mediate the prospective associations between disrupted daily routines and persistent psychiatric symptoms: A population-based cohort study. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 152, 260-268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.05.033
An, Y., Huang, J., Yeung, E. T. F., & Hou, W. K. (2022). Academic burnout and posttraumatic growth predict trajectories of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms of adolescents following Yancheng tornado in China. International Journal of Stress Management, -, ---.
Wiese, B. S., Hou, W. K., Noppeney, R., & Li, T. W. (2022). Staying focused on work and satisfied with the job in times of pandemic: The power of everyday routines. International Journal of Stress Management, 29, 166-170.
Ho, P. L., Li, T. W., Liu, H., Yeung, T. F., & Hou, W. K. (2022). Testing a new protocol of nature-based intervention to enhance well-being: A randomized control trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7) https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073931
An, Y., Zhao, J., Shi, J., & Hou, W. K (2022). Network analysis of posttraumatic stress disorders symptoms among adolescent survivors of a major disaster in China. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 14, 132-140.
Goodwin, R., Ben-Ezra, M., Takahasi, M., Nguyen Luu, L. Borsfay, K., Kovács, M., Hou, W. K., Hamama-Raz, Y., & Levin, Y. (2022). Psychological factors underpinning vaccine willingness in Israel, Japan and Hungary. Scientific Reports, 12 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03986-2
Hou, W. K., Li, T. W., Liang, L., Liu, H., Ettman, C. K., Hobfoll, S. E., Lee, T. M. C., & Galea, S. (2022). Trends of depression and anxiety during massive civil unrest and COVID-19 in Hong Kong, 2019–2020. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 145, 77-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.11.037
Liu, H., Li, T. W., Liang, L., & Hou, W. K. (2021). Trauma exposure and mental health of prisoners and ex-prisoners: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 89 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102069
Hou, W. K., Lee, T. M. C., Liang, L., Li, T. W., Liu, H., Ettman, C. K., & Galea, S. (2021). Civil unrest, COVID-19 stressors, anxiety, and depression in the acute phase of the pandemic: a population-based study in Hong Kong. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 56, 1499-1508. https://doi.org/ 10.1007/s00127-021-02037-5
Tong, H., Hou, W. K., Liang, L., Li, T. W., Liu, H., Lee, T. M. C. (2021). Age-related differences of rumination on the loneliness–depression relationship: Evidence from a population-representative cohort. Innovation in Aging, 5(4) https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igab034
Chan, E. W. W., Liang, L., Liu, H., & Hou, W. K. (2021). The moderated associations of self-compassion with physiological and psychological stress responses: Comparisons between cancer caregivers and non-caregivers. Journal of Health Psychology https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053211030994
Liang, L., Ben-Ezra, M., Chan, E.W.W., Liu, H., Lavenda, O., & Hou, W.K. (2021). Psychometric evaluation of the Adjustment Disorder New Module-20 (ADNM-20): A multi-study analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 81, 102406.
Hou, W. K., Lee, T. M. C., Liang, L., Li, T. W., Liu, H., Tong, H., Ben-Ezra, M., & Goodwin, R. (2021). Psychiatric symptoms and behavioral adjustment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from two population-representative cohorts. Translational Psychiatry, 11, 174. https://doi.org/ 10.1038/s41398-021-01279-w
Hou, W. K., Liang, L., Hougen, C., & Bonanno, G. A. (2021). Regulatory flexibility of sustaining daily routines and mental health in adaptation to financial strain: A vignette approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), 3103.
Hou, W. K., Tong, H., Liang, L., Li, T. W., Liu, H., Ben-Ezra, M., Goodwin, R., & Lee, T. M. C. (2021). Probable anxiety and components of psychological resilience amid COVID-19: A population-based study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 282, 594-601.
Sun, R., Hou, W.K., Hui, P.H., Siu, N.Y.F., Engels, T., & Sauter, D. (2021). Perception and evaluation of 23 positive emotions in Hong Kong and the Netherlands. Frontiers in Psychology, -
Hou, W. K., Hall, B. J., Liang, L., Li, T. W., Liu, H., & Galea, S. (2021). Probable depression and suicidal ideation in Hong Kong amid massive civil unrest. Annals of Epidemiology, 54, 45-51.
Liang, L., Ma, T. W., & Hou, W. K. (2021). Subjective power and emotions in everyday interpersonal interactions: Counterparts' constrictive posture as moderator. International Journal of Psychology, 56(1), 95-105.
Ben-Ezra, M., Hou, W. K., & Goodwin, R. (2021). Investigating the relationship between COVID-19-related and distress and ICD-11 adjustment disorder: two cross-sectional studies. BJPsych Open, 7(1), e21.
Goodwin, R., Hou, W. K., Sun, S., & Ben-Ezra, M (2021). Psychological and behavioural responses to COVID-19: a China–Britain comparison. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 75, 189-192.
Hou, W. K., Lai, F. T. T., Ben-Ezra, M., & Goodwin, R (2020). Regularizing daily routines for mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Global Health, 10(2), 020315.
Lai, F. T. T., Hall, B. J., Liang, L., Galea, S., & Hou, W. K. (2020). Socioeconomic determinants of depression amid the anti-extradition bill protests in Hong Kong: the mediating role of daily routine disruptions. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 74(12), 988-994.
Li, T. W., Lee, T. M. C., Goodwin, R., Ben-Ezra, M., Liang, L., Liu, H., & Hou, W. K. (2020). Social Capital, Income Loss, and Psychobehavioral Responses amid COVID-19: A Population-Based Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(23), 8888.
Ben-Ezra, M., Sun, S., Hou, W. K., & Goodwin, R. (2020). The association of being in quarantine and related COVID-19 recommended and non-recommended behaviors with psychological distress in Chinese population. Journal of Affective Disorders, 275, 66-68.
Goodwin, R., Hou, W. K., Sun, S., & Ben-Ezra, M. (2020). Quarantine, distress and interpersonal relationships during COVID-19. General Psychiatry, 33(6), e100385.
Ma, T. W., Bryant, F. B., & Hou, W. K. (2020). Associations of trait positive emotion regulation with everyday emotions: An experience sampling approach. International Journal of Psychology, 55(5), 871-881.
Lai, F. T. T., Ma, T. W., & Hou, W. K. (2020). How does chronic multimorbidity affect daily routines? An experience sampling study of community‐dwelling adults in Hong Kong. Journal of Community Psychology, 48(7), 2326-2348.
Smith, L. G. E., Wakeford, L., Cribbin, T., Barnett, J., & Hou, W. K. (2020). Detecting psychological change through mobilizing interactions and changes in extremist linguistic style. Computers in Human Behavior, 108, 106298.
Bonanno, G. A., Maccallum, F., Malgaroli, M. Hou, W. K. (2020). The Context Sensitivity Index (CSI): Measuring the ability to identify the presence and absence of stressor context cues. Assessment, 27, 261-273.
Chiu, H. T., Yee, L. T. S., Kwan, J. L. Y., Cheung, R. Y. M., & Hou, W. K. (2020). Interactive association between negative emotion regulation and savoring is linked to anxiety symptoms among college students. Journal of American College Health, 68(5), 494-501.
Hou, W. K., Liu, H., Liang, L., Ho, J., Kim, H., Seong, E., Bonanno, G. A., Hobfoll, S. E., & Hall, B. J. (2020). Everyday life experiences and mental health among conflict-affected forced migrants: A meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 264, 50-68.
Hou, W. K., & Hall, B. J. (2019). The mental health impact of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(12), 982.
Cheung, R. Y. M., Leung, M. C., Chiu, H. T., Kwan, J. L. Y., Yee, T. S., & Hou, W. K. (2019). Family functioning and psychological outcomes at emerging adulthood: Savoring positive experiences as a mediating mechanism. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(9), 2693-2713.
Lai, F. T. T., Ma, T. W., & Hou, W. K. (2019). Multi-morbidity and depressive symptoms at three-month follow-up: A prospective study of community-dwelling Chinese adults in Hong Kong. International Psychogeriatrics, 31(9), 1367-1371.
Hou, W. K., Liang, L., Lau K. M., & Hall, M. (2019). Savouring and psychological well‐being in family dyads coping with cancer: An actor–partner interdependence model. European Journal of Cancer Care, 28(4), e13047.
Hou, W. K., Lai, F. T. T., Hougen, C., Hall, B. J., & Hobfoll, S. E. (2019). Measuring everyday processes and mechanisms of stress resilience: Development and initial validation of the Sustainability of Living Inventory (SOLI). Psychological Assessment, 31, 715-729.
Hou, W. K., Lau, K. M., Shum, T. C. Y., Cheng, A. C. K., & Lee, T. M. C. (2018). Do concordances of social support and relationship quality predict psychological distress and well-being of cancer patients and caregivers?. European Journal of Cancer Care, 27(4), e12857.
Hou, W. K., Canetti, D., Ma, T. W., Hall, B. J., Lau, K. M., Ng, S. M., & Hobfoll, S. E. (2018). What predicts threat perceptions toward people opposing to the government? A population-based study following the Umbrella Movement, Hong Kong. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 6, 383-400.
Ho, J., Ngai, S. P. C., Wu, W. K. K., & Hou, W. K. (2018). Association between daily life experience and psychological well-being in people living with non-psychotic mental disorders: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine, 97, e9733.
Hou, W. K., & Bonanno, G. A. (2018). Emotions in everyday life during social movements: Prospective predictions of mental health. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 65, 120-131.
Hall, B. J., Lam, A. I. F., Wu, T. L., Hou, W. K., Latkin, C., & Galea, S. (2017). The epidemiology of depression in Macau, China: Towards a plan for mental health action. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 52, 1227-1235.
Hou, W. K., Lau, K. M., Ng, S. M., Cheng, S. T., Shum, T. C. Y., Cheng, A. C. K., & Cheung, H. Y. S. (2017). Savoring moderates the association between cancer-specific physical symptoms and depressive symptoms. Psycho-Oncology, 26, 231-238.
Ng, S. M., & Hou, W. K. (2017). Contentment duration mediates the associations between anxious attachment style and psychological distress. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 258--.
Lau, K. M., Hou, W. K., Hall, B. J., Canetti, D., Ng, S. M., Lam, A. L. F., & Hobfall, S. E. (2016). Social media and mental health in democracy movement in Hong Kong: A population-based study. Computers in Human Behavior, 64, 656-662.
Hou, W. K., Lau, K. M., Ng, S. M., Lee, T. M. C., Cheung H. Y. S., Shum, T. C. Y., & Cheng, A. C. K. (2016). Psychological detachment and savoring in adaptation to cancer caregiving. Psycho-Oncology, 25, 839-847.
Hou, W. K., Hall, B. J., Canetti, D., Lau, K. M., Ng, S. M., & Hobfoll, S. E. (2015). Threat to democracy: Physical and mental health impact of democracy movement in Hong Kong. Journal of Affective Disorders, 186, 74-82.
Hou, W.K., Lau, K.M., Ng, S.M., Cheng. A.C.K., Shum,. T.C.Y., & Cheung, H. Y. S. (2015). Explaining the Association between Physical Symptom Distress and Health Engagement Control Strategies among People with Cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, 12 (Suppl 1), s247-s247.
Hou, W. K., Ng, S. M., & Wan, J. H. Y. (2015). Changes in positive affect and mindfulness predict changes in cortisol response and psychiatric symptoms: A latent change score modeling approach. Psychology & Health, 30, 551-567.
Hou, W. K., & Ng, S. M. (2014). Emotion-focused positive rumination and relationship satisfaction as the underlying mechanisms between resilience and psychiatric symptoms. Personality and Individual Differences, 71, 159-164.
Hou, W. K., & Lam, J. H. M. (2014). Resilience in the year after cancer diagnosis: A cross-lagged panel analysis of the reciprocity between psychological distress and well-being (doi:10.1007/s10865-013-9497-6). Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 37, 391-401.
Lee, T. M. C., Leung, M. K., Hou, W. K., Tang, J., Jing Yin, So, K. F., Lee, C. F., & Chan, C. C. H. (2012). Distinct neural activity associated with focused-attention meditation and loving-kindness meditation. PLoS ONE, 7(8), e40054.
Hou, W. K., & Wan, J. H. Y. (2012). Perceived control mediates the prospective impact of relationship quality in the year after colorectal cancer diagnosis. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 43, 129-138.
Ma, T. M. K.*, Hou, W. K.*, Hung, A., & Lee, T. M. C. (* Joint first author) (2010). Personality traits and social behaviors predict the psychological adjustment of Chinese people with epilepsy. Seizure – European Journal of Epilepsy, 19, 493-500.
Hou, W. K., Law, C. C., Yin, J., & Fu, Y. T. (2010). Resource loss, resource gain, and psychological resilience and dysfunction in the year following cancer diagnosis: A growth mixture modeling approach. Health Psychology, 29, 484-495.
Hou, W. K. (2010). Intrapersonal and interpersonal dimensions of cancer perception: A confirmatory factor analysis of the Cancer Experience and Efficacy Scale (CEES). Supportive Care in Cancer, 18, 561-571.
Hou, W. K., Law, C. C., & Fu, Y. T. (2010). Does change in positive affect mediate and/or moderate the impact of symptom distress on psychological adjustment after cancer diagnosis? A prospective analysis. Psychology & Health, 25, 417-431.
Hou, W. K., Lam, W. W. T., Law, C. C., Fu, Y. T., & Fielding, R. (2009). Measuring social relational quality in colorectal cancer: The Social Relational Quality Scale (SRQS). Psycho-Oncology, 18, 1097-1105.
Hou, W. K., Lam, W. W. T., & Fielding, R. (2009). Adaptation process and psychosocial resources of Chinese colorectal cancer patients undergoing adjuvant treatment: A qualitative analysis. Psycho-Oncology, 18, 936-944.

Conference Papers
Invited conference paper
Hou, W.K. (2015, July). Conservation of Resources Theory as Applied to Psychological Resilience and Dysfunction in Adaptation to Cancer. 36th Annual Conference of the Stress and Anxiety Research Society, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Hou, W. K., & Lam, J. H. M. (2011, July). Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to investigate temporal dynamics in behavioral and neuroimaging data. Paper presented at International Conference on the Educational Neuroscience of Mathematical Cognition, Hong Kong.
Hou, W. K. (2010, December). Measuring generic and culture-specific cancer perceptions in Chinese people with colorectal cancer. Invited paper presented at 2010 Asian Chinese Quality of Life Conference, Hong Kong SAR.
Refereed conference paper
Hou, W. K. (2019, April). The everyday processes and mechanisms of becoming resilient teachers: An application of the drive to thrive theory abstract. Paper presented at the 2019 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting: Leveraging Education Research in a “Post-Truth” Era: Multimodal Narratives to Democratize Evidence
Hou, W. K., Hall, B. J., & Hobfoll, S. E. (2017, November). Drive to Thrive theory: Understanding and fostering resilience among refugee and post-conflict populations. International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 33rd Annual Meeting, Chicago, USA.
Hou, W.K., Hobfoll, S.E., Bradbury, T.N., Nguyen, T.P., Waldinger, R.J., Schulz, M.S., Cordova, J.V.,& Gray, T.D. (2017, May). Psychological resilience within intimate relationships: Processes and mechanisms (symposium chair). 29th Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention, Boston, USA.
Hou, W.K.,& Hobfoll, S.E. (2017, May). In a state of flux: How couples cope with stress in everyday life? (oral presentation). 29th Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention, Boston, USA.
Ma, T.W.,& Hou, W.K. (2017, May). The associations of savoring with emotional experiences in everyday life: An experience sampling study. 29th Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention, Boston, USA.
Yee, T.S.L., Chiu, H.T., Tsang, H.F., Kwan, L.Y.J., Cheung, Y.M.R.,& Hou, W.K. (2017, May). Regulation of Positive and Negative Emotional Experiences Mediate the Relationship between Dispositional Mindfulness and Anxiety Symptoms in Young Adults. 29th Association for Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention, Boston, USA.
Hou, W.K.,& Ma, T.W. (2016, August). Does cognitive control predict everyday emotions and control strategies? An ecological momentary assessment study. 2016 Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society/British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology (EHPS/DHP 2016), Aberdeen, Scotland.
Hou, W.K.,& Ma, T.W. (2016, July). Age differences in control strategies in everyday life fabrics. 31st International Congress of Psychology, Yokohama, Japan.
Hou, W. K., Lau, K. M., Shum, T. C. Y., Cheng, A. C. K., Cheung, H. Y. S., & Lee, T. M. C. (2016, January). Empathic accuracy among cancer caregivers: Predictors and outcomes.
Lau, K. M., Hou, W. K., Hall, B. J., Canetti, D., Ng, S. M., & Hobfoll, S. E. (2016, January). Mental health implications of resource loss on social networking services during political upheaval.
Hou, W.K. & Ng, S.M. (2015, July). Contentment Mediates the Impact of Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance on Psychological Functioning. 36th Annual Conference of the Stress and Anxiety Research Society, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Hou, W. K., & Lau, K. M. (2014). Savoring as a daily life process mediates the associations between health promotion and depressive and physical symptoms in people newly diagnosed with cancer. European Health Psychologist
Hou, W. K., & Ng. S. M. (2014). Affective and interpersonal processes relating to psychological resilience. European Health Psychologist
Hou, W. K., & Ng, S. M. (2014, August). Affective and interpersonal processes relating to psychological resilience. Paper presented at 28th Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, Innsbruck, Austria.
Hou, W. K., Lau, K. M., Ng, S. M., Cheng, A. C. K., Shum, T. C. Y., & Cheung, H. Y. S. (2014, August). Savoring as a daily life process mediates the associations between health promotion and depressive and physical symptoms in people newly diagnosed with cancer. Paper presented at 28th Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, Innsbruck, Austria.
Hou, W. K. (2013, July). The associations of relationship quality with physical functioning and depressive symptoms are mediated by social support process among cancer caregivers. Paper presented at 21st World Congress of Social Psychiatry, Lison, Portugal.
Hou, W. K. (2012, August). Predicting diurnal cortisol rhythm: A growth mixture modeling approach. Paper presented at 26th Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Hou, W. K., Jing Yin, So, K. F., Chan, C. C. H., & Lee, T. M. C. (2010, June). Attention and emotional functioning of meditators: An fMRI study. Paper presented at 16th Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Barcelona, Spain.
Hou, W. K., Law, C. C., & Fu, Y. T. (2008, July). Psychological distress and well-being: Overlapped or distinct outcomes in the acute aftermath of cancer diagnosis?. Paper presented at XXIX International Congress of Psychology, Berlin, Germany.
Hou, W. K., Lam, W. W. T., Fielding, R. (2008, June). Chinese colorectal cancer (CRC) patients’ social relationship quality and negative affect. Paper presented at 10th World Congress of Psycho-oncology, Madrid, Spain.
Hou, W. K., Fielding, R., Lam, W. W. T., Law, C. C., & Fu, Y. T. (2007, September). Development and initial validation of the Chinese Social Relational Quality Scale (Ch-SRQ) in Chinese colorectal cancer patients. Paper presented at 9th World Congress of Psycho-oncology, London, UK.
Hou, W. K., Fielding, R., Lam, W. W. T., Law, C. C., & Fu, Y. T. (2007, September). Personal resources in the context of cancer diagnosis: The role of positive states of mind in psychological distress and well-being. Paper presented at 9th World Congress of Psycho-oncology, London, UK.
Hou, W. K., Fielding, R., Lam, W. W. T., Law, C. C., & Fu, Y. T. (2007, June). The impact of relational quality and social support on adaptation to colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis. Paper presented at Supportive Care in Cancer – 20th International Anniversary Symposium, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Hou, W. K., Fielding, R., & Lam, W. W. T. (2006, November). Measuring social-cognitive processing in Chinese people with colorectal cancer (CRC): Development and initial validation of an instrument. Paper presented at 13th Hong Kong International Cancer Congress, Hong Kong SAR.

Projects

Compassionate School Sponsoring Body Programme (Research)
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Project Start Year: 2022, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai

 
Compassionate School Sponsoring Body Programme (Research) (RMG)
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Project Start Year: 2022, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai

 
Adaptation to Financial Strain: A Prospective Study of Everyday Processes and Mechanisms and Mental Health
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Project Start Year: 2021, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai

 
Bringing Psychologists from around the World into Classrooms
To raise students’ awareness of the similarities and differences of the work of psychologists in different parts of the world
Project Start Year: 2020, Principal Investigator(s): YEE, Ting Sum Lydia 余婷琛 (HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳 as Co-Investigator)

 
The Mental Health Impact of the Social Movements in Hong Kong: A Chance to Build Back Better Daily Life
Public Policy Research (PPR) Funding Scheme (Special Round), Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office, Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong SARThe objectives of this project are to investigate the socioeconomic gradient of mental health and explicate how behavioral processes, namely sustaining regular daily routines, could buffer affected populations of the negative impact of lower socioeconomic status and financial difficulties on mental health during and after large-scale social movement.
Project Start Year: 2020, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
COVID-19 and Mental Health across Countries
COVID-19 and mental health across countries
Project Start Year: 2020, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
COVID-19 and Mental Health across Countries
COVID-19 and mental health across countries
Project Start Year: 2020, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
Civil Unrest, COVID-19 Stress, and Population Mental Health
Civil unrest, COVID-19 stress, and population mental health
Project Start Year: 2020, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
Understanding Emotions across Cultures during COVID-19
Understanding Emotions across Cultures during COVID-19
Project Start Year: 2020, Principal Investigator(s): SAUTER, Disa (HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳 as Co-Investigator)

 
Enhancing Well-being and Resilience: A Comprehensive, Fundamental Programme for University Students and Staff
The ultimate goal of this project is to enhance emotional, physical, spiritual, and interpersonal well-being of university students and staff through a series of stepwise modules that contribute towards holistic health. Our comprehensive programme will consist of four key components that empower students and staff to change their behavior and ecology for well-being and resilience (Figure 1). Experienced expert instructors will conduct well-designed modules on (1) mindfulness meditation training integrated into academic calendar (students only); (2) programme on nature contact (staff only); (3) workshop on potted plants for creating a green and sustainable study or work environment (both students and staff); (4) workshops on music therapy (both students and staff); and (5) workshops on art therapy (both students and staff).
Project Start Year: 2019, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
A Multi-Method Approach for Assessing and Intervening the Behavioral Mechanisms of Resilience in Trauma-Affected Population: Initial Development
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Project Start Year: 2019, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
Behavioral and Emotional Coregulation among Colleagues: A Longitudinal Study of Primary and Secondary School Teachers in Hong Kong
This proposed study aims to identify the well-being and health outcomes of coregulation between colleagues by examining the influence of intra- and interpersonal regulation in dyadic work relationships.
Project Start Year: 2019, Principal Investigator(s): HO, Chun Yip Henry 何振業 (HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳 as Co-Investigator)

 
Asian Network of Traumatic Stress Studies
Asian network of traumatic stress studies
Project Start Year: 2019, Principal Investigator(s): GOODWIN, Robin (HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳 as Co-Principal Investigator)

 
Mental Health in Hong Kong amid Massive Civil Unrest
Mental health in Hong Kong amid massive civil unrest
Project Start Year: 2019, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
Mental Health of Adolescents Following the Yancheng Tornado
Mental health of adolescents following the Yancheng Tornado
Project Start Year: 2019, Principal Investigator(s): AN, Yuanyuan (HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳 as Co-Investigator)

 
Predicting Online Radicalisation
Detecting psychological change through mobilizing interactions and changes in extremist linguistic style
Project Start Year: 2019, Principal Investigator(s): SMITH, Laura G. E. (HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳 as Collaborator)

 
Adaptation to Financial Strain A Longitudinal Study of Everyday Processes and Mechanisms and Mental Health
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Project Start Year: 2018, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
Personal, Social, and Community Well-Being Cluster
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Project Start Year: 2018, Principal Investigator(s): POON, Kai Tak 潘啟德 (HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳 as Team Member)

 
Behavioral Adjustment in Everyday Life
This research aims to validate a vignette-based task, which contains hypothetical scenarios of coping with different problems in everyday life, for assessing individual differences in sustaining everyday life routines. Self-report instruments will also be validated, contributing to current theoretical and empirical literature on psychological resilience in different forms of trauma and chronic stress conditions.
Project Start Year: 2018, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
A Pilot Study of Mindfulness Programme for University Students
A Pilot Study of Mindfulness Programme for University Students
Project Start Year: 2018, Principal Investigator(s): HUE, Ming Tak 許明得 (HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳 as Co-Investigator)

 
Validation of ADNM (Adjustment Disorder New Module) and the ICD-11
Validation of ADNM (Adjustment Disorder New Module) and the ICD-11
Project Start Year: 2018, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
Understanding Positive Emotions across Cultures
A series of studies investigating positive emotions across cultures
Project Start Year: 2017, Principal Investigator(s): Sun, Rui (HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳 as Co-Investigator)

 
Multitasking in everyday life
Multitasking, mobile phone addiction, daily routines, and mental health.
Project Start Year: 2017, Principal Investigator(s): Blachnio, Agata (HOU, Wai Kai as Co-Investigator)

 
Drive to Thrive Theory: Understanding Everyday Processes and Mechanisms of Psychological Resilience
A mutilmethod approach for investigating everyday mechanisms of stress resilience.
Project Start Year: 2017, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
Drive to Thrive Theory: Processes and Outcomes from a Flexibility Perspective
The ultimate goal of this project was to provide a new framework and empirical evidence for explaining human stress resilience using the drive to thrive theory and the framework of regulatory flexibility. Study 1 aimed to critically review the current literature on the strategies of sustaining everyday life fabrics across different traumatic and chronic stressful conditions and evaluate the utility of the three sequential components of regulatory flexibility in explaining everyday adaptation. Study 2 aimed to develop a multi-method approach to examine and validate emotional flexibility as a potential outcome measure of stress resilience in everyday life.
Project Start Year: 2016, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
A comparison between mindfulness training and relaxation training on memory, physical and psychosocial wellbeing
This study compares between mindfulness training and relaxation training on memory, physical and psychosocial wellbeing
Project Start Year: 2016, Principal Investigator(s): YEE, Ting Sum Lydia 余婷琛 (HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳 as Co-Investigator)

 
Effect of Short-Term Mindfulness Training on Cognitive Control of Memory and Mental Health
The current study tests the links among mindfulness practice, cognitive control of memory retrieval, emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Project Start Year: 2015, Principal Investigator(s): YEE, Ting Sum Lydia 余婷琛 (HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳 as Co-Investigator)

 
Resource Change, Mental Health, Threat Perceptions, and Political Attitudes during the Pro-democracy Movement in Hong Kong, 2014-2015
The aim of this project is to investigate the nature of associations among changes in psychosocial and material resources, anxiety and depressive symptoms, threat perceptions, and exclusionist political attitudes among Hong Kong people in the midst of pro-democracy movement, 2014-2015.
Project Start Year: 2014, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
Age Differences in Cognitive Control and Daily Control Strategies and Emotional Experiences: Implications on Physical and Emotional Health
This project aims to investigate age differences in cognitive control, and control strategies and emotional experiences in daily life, and how these processes impact physical and emotional health over time. In-depth understanding of our everyday experiences is essential for the study of human stress resilience. Older adults relative to younger adults demonstrate higher cortisol levels, report higher positive affect and lower negative affect, and are more motivated to enhance positive emotional states. Older adults also differ from younger adults in coping with stress, for they are more likely to change themselves to fit with environmental demands because of their declining physical and mental resources for goal attainment. This project will significantly contribute to aging and health psychology research by delineating cognition-emotion interactions that characterize human resilience. The potential findings will inform development of age-appropriate, ecologically valid training protocols for enhancing physical and emotional health of people across the adult lifespan.
Project Start Year: 2014, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
Reconciling the Impact of Control Strategies and Emotional Reactivity in Daily Life on Emotional Well-Being
Flexible psychobiological reactivity to stress buffers individuals of developing affective disorders, whereas cognitive flexibility as an essential substance in demanding modern life impacts daily emotional experience. Notwithstanding the importance of flexible emotional reactivity in daily life and the potential dynamic interplays of it with cognitive flexibility, very little research has been conducted to simultaneously examine the associations of the two coping resources with development of affective symptoms. This prospective study aims to examine the impact of emotional reactivity and cognitive flexibility on change in affective symptoms.
Project Start Year: 2012, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
The Role of Social Cognition in Support Provision and Adjustment in Cancer Caregiving: A Longitudinal Analysis
Advances in treatment have substantially prolonged the lifespan of people with cancer. As cancer care shifts from hospitals to home or community settings, family caregivers face the difficulty of providing various kinds of support. They also shoulder the life-and-death responsibility for the patients. Despite the need to support cancer caregivers and reduce the risks of poor adjustment among them, very little research has been conducted in Chinese societies. This 12-month prospective study aims to examine the biological basis and social cognitive and supportive processes of adjustment among Chinese family caregivers of cancer patients in Hong Kong.
Project Start Year: 2012, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
Psychobiology of Adaptation to Examination Stress: A Longitudinal Analysis
No studies have investigated the temporal dynamics of physiological stress response, namely cortisol, in adapting to and recovering from examination stress. This study aims to investigate the prospective patterns of salivary cortisol and its associations with coping resources and adjustment outcomes in undergraduate students before, during, and after examination.
Project Start Year: 2011, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳

 
Psychobiology of Adaptation to Examination Stress: A Longitudinal Analysis
No studies have investigated the temporal dynamics of physiological stress response, namely cortisol, in adapting to and recovering from examination stress. This study aims to investigate the prospective patterns of salivary cortisol and its associations with coping resources and adjustment outcomes in undergraduate students before, during, and after examination.
Project Start Year: 2011, Principal Investigator(s): HOU, Wai Kai 侯維佳