Dr LAU, Yi Hung Eva    劉怡虹 博士
Associate Professor
Department of Early Childhood Education
Contact
ORCiD
0000-0002-1176-0457
Phone
(852) 2948 8258
Fax
(852) 2948 7160
Email
evalau@eduhk.hk
Address
10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong
Website
https://pappl.eduhk.hk/rich/web/person.xhtml?pid=132766&name=LAU, Yi Hung Eva
Scopus ID
35799813900
Research Interests
  • Parenting and child socio-emotional development
  • Parenting practices and parent-child programs to enhance children's executive functions and school readiness
  • Well-being and parenting during the transition to parenthood
Teaching Interests
  • Child development
  • Parent-child relationships
  • Home-school collaboration
  • School transition 
Other Activities

Awards:

1.         President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Knowledge Transfer 2022/23 (Team Award), EdUHK, May 2023

2.         Research Engagement and Impact Award, Faculty of Education and Human Develoment, EdUHK, June 2022

3.         Excellence in Knowledge Transfer Award, Department of Early Childhood Education, EdUHK, June 2022

4.         Excellence in Knowledge Transfer Award, Department of Early Childhood Education, EdUHK, August 2020

5.         Faculty Teaching Award, Faculty of Education and Human Development, EdUHK, August 2018

6.         Finalist, Faculty Quality Journal Article Award, Faculty of Education and Human Development, EdUHK, July 2018

7.         FEHD Teaching Award “Top 10%”, Faculty of Education and Human Development, EdUHK, May 2017

8.         Finalist, Faculty Quality Journal Article Award, Faculty of Education and Human Development, EdUHK, July 2017

9.     Departmental Publication Awards, Department of Early Childhood Education, EdUHK, October 2012 & April 2013

10.     Margaret Hard Research Award, Washington State University, August 2007

11.     International Merit Award, Washington State University, November 2005 & November 2006


Major knowledge transfer activities:

1.         Designed the “EdUHK Jockey Club School Transition and Readiness Project”

2.         Launched the mobile app, 「親子大腦訓練營」 (“Video-based Interactive Parent-Child Executive Function” training, VIPCHIEF)

3.         Developed the “Intervention for Reducing Aggression during the Early Childhood Years Resource Kit” 

4.         Co-host of the EdUHK Take a SIP video series

5.         Specialist in the EdUHK Kindergarten-Primary Bridging Project 360 video series

Personal Profile

-Dr. Eva Lau is an Associate Professor and Associate Head (Staff and Students Affairs) of the Department of Early Childhood Education at the Education University of Hong Kong. She is a researcher in the field of child development and family studies, with a wide range of interests including parental involvement, parenting practices, school readiness, childhood aggression, and executive functions. Her research program focuses on three crucial areas: 1) the impact of parenting on child socio-emotional development, 2) the effectiveness of parenting practices and parent-child programs in enhancing children's executive functions and school readiness, and 3) well-being and parenting during the transition to parenthood.

-Dr. Lau has published in reputable journals such as Parenting, Early Childhood Research Quarterly, Early Education and Development, and British Educational Research Journal. She is a member of the Society for Research in Child Development. She has successfully secured three competitive research grants from the Research Grant Council to support her research endeavors. In addition, she has received substantial donations, totaling over 40 million dollars, for projects specifically related to school transition.

-Dr. Lau is a speaker for over 150 teacher training workshops and parent education programs, collaborating with local and overseas universities, schools, and the Education Bureau of Hong Kong. She frequently provides insights on parenting and school transition topics through interviews with television, radio, newspaper, and magazine outlets. Her research findings and projects have been covered by local and international media on more than 100 occasions. Dr. Lau is also the author of a children's book on school transition and has served as a consultant for two community programs on parenting and school transition. In 2022/23, the school transition team led by Dr. Lau was awarded the President's Award for Knowledge Transfer from her university for their exceptional efforts in promoting children's school transition during the pandemic.

-Dr. Lau currently serves as an associate editor for Early Education and Development and an editorial member for the Journal of Research in Childhood Education. Throughout her career, she has supervised three Ph.D. and five M.A. students as their principal supervisor. In addition to serving as a thesis examiner and grant reviewer for both local and overseas universities, she has also been a program external examiner and advisor for local tertiary institutions. She is a specialist for the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications and a school manager for four local kindergartens.

-As the loving mother of two young children, Dr. Lau recognizes the uniqueness of each child and family, and believes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to parenting. She takes pleasure in supporting parents by sharing her research knowledge and her own experiences as a parent. 

Research Interests
  • Parenting and child socio-emotional development
  • Parenting practices and parent-child programs to enhance children's executive functions and school readiness
  • Well-being and parenting during the transition to parenthood
Teaching Interests
  • Child development
  • Parent-child relationships
  • Home-school collaboration
  • School transition 
Other Activities

Awards:

1.         President’s Award for Outstanding Performance in Knowledge Transfer 2022/23 (Team Award), EdUHK, May 2023

2.         Research Engagement and Impact Award, Faculty of Education and Human Develoment, EdUHK, June 2022

3.         Excellence in Knowledge Transfer Award, Department of Early Childhood Education, EdUHK, June 2022

4.         Excellence in Knowledge Transfer Award, Department of Early Childhood Education, EdUHK, August 2020

5.         Faculty Teaching Award, Faculty of Education and Human Development, EdUHK, August 2018

6.         Finalist, Faculty Quality Journal Article Award, Faculty of Education and Human Development, EdUHK, July 2018

7.         FEHD Teaching Award “Top 10%”, Faculty of Education and Human Development, EdUHK, May 2017

8.         Finalist, Faculty Quality Journal Article Award, Faculty of Education and Human Development, EdUHK, July 2017

9.     Departmental Publication Awards, Department of Early Childhood Education, EdUHK, October 2012 & April 2013

10.     Margaret Hard Research Award, Washington State University, August 2007

11.     International Merit Award, Washington State University, November 2005 & November 2006


Major knowledge transfer activities:

1.         Designed the “EdUHK Jockey Club School Transition and Readiness Project”

2.         Launched the mobile app, 「親子大腦訓練營」 (“Video-based Interactive Parent-Child Executive Function” training, VIPCHIEF)

3.         Developed the “Intervention for Reducing Aggression during the Early Childhood Years Resource Kit” 

4.         Co-host of the EdUHK Take a SIP video series

5.         Specialist in the EdUHK Kindergarten-Primary Bridging Project 360 video series

Research Outputs
Scholarly Books, Monographs and Chapters
Chapter in an edited book (author)
Wong, M. N. C., Lau, E. Y. H., Li, H. (2011). Establishing a Quality Culture in Hong Kong Preschools: A review of the Joint Efforts by Government, Researchers, Preschool Leaders and Teachers.. In Boris Kozuh and Elena Bocharov, Teachers, School and Education (49-62). Gorlovka, Ukraine: Gorlovka State Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages..
Lau, E. Y. H., & Li, H. (2011). Home-school Collaboration in Preschool: A Multiple Case Study of Chinese Teachers’ Perceptions and Practices. In Richard Kahn and Slawomir Mazur, Educational Studies and School (199-214). Los Angeles: Department of Education, Antioch University Los Angeles.

Journal Publications
Publication in refereed journal
Li, J. B., Lau, E. Y. H., & Chan, D. K. C. (2023). Moral obligation to follow anti-COVID-19 measures strengthens the mental health cost of pandemic burnout. Journal of Affective Disorders, 328, 341-344.
Lau, E. Y. H., Li, J. B., & Chan, D. K. C. (2023). Children infected vs. uninfected with COVID-19: Differences in parent reports of the use of mobile phones to calm children, routines, parent–child relationship, and developmental outcomes. Frontiers in Public Health, 11 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1114597
Lee, A.S., Datu, J.A.D., Chan, D.K., Lau, E.Y.H., Fung, W.K., Cheng, R.W.Y., Cheung, R.Y.M. and Chung, K.K.H. (2023). The effects of a PROSPER-based intervention on well-being among pre-service preschool teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized control trial. Educational Psychology, 43(2-3), 228-245. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2023.2189649
Tao, S., & Lau, E. Y. H. (2023). Child aggression and parenting behavior: Understanding the child-driven effects with parents’ emotion regulation as a moderator. Journal of Family Psychology, 00, 00-00.
Huang, Q., Sun, J., Lau, E. Y. H., & Zhou, Y. L. (2023). Parental scaffolding and children's math ability: The type of activities matters. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 00, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12444
Cheung, R. Y., Cheng, W. Y., Li, J. B., Lau, E. Y. H., & Chung, K. K. H. (2022). Mothers’ and fathers’ stress and severity of depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: Actor-partner effects with parental negative emotions as a moderator. BMC Psychology, 10(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-022-01016-y
Zhu, Y., Li, J., Zhang, M., Li, C., Lau, E. Y. H., & Tao, S. (2022). Physical activity participation and physical aggression in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 63 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102288
Lau, E. Y. H., & Williams, K. (2022). Emotional regulation in mothers and fathers and relations to aggression in Hong Kong preschool children. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 53(4), 797-807. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-021-01165-y
Lau, E. Y. H., Li, J. B., & King Chung Chan, D. (2022). Letter to the editor: Backdrop context of the study “Intention to vaccinate young children against COVID-19: A large-scale survey of Hong Kong parents”. Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, 18(5) https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2022.2090179
Huang, Q., Sun, J., Lau, E. Y. H., & Zhou, Y. L. (2022). Linking Chinese mothers’ and fathers’ scaffolding with children's initiative and mathematics performance: A moderated mediation model. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 59, 74-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2021.11.001
Tao, S. S., Li, J. B., Zhang, M. G., Zheng, P. J., Lau, E., Y. H., Sun, J., & Zhu, Y. X., (2021). The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on child and adolescent aggression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mindfulness, 12, 1301-1315.
Lau, E. & Lee, K. (2020). Parents’ Views on Young Children’s Distance Learning and Screen Time During COVID-19 Class Suspension in Hong Kong. Early Education and Development, 32(6), 863-880.
Lau, Y. H. E., Li, J. B., (2020). Child Physical Aggression: The Contributions of Fathers’ Job Support, Mothers’ Coparenting, Fathers’ Authoritative Parenting and Child’s Theory of Mind. Child Indicators Research, 13, 1085-1105.
Ng, H.L.B., & Lau, Y.H.E. (2020). Influences of Psychological Well-being, Job Support, and Paternal Involvement on Working Mothers’ Involvement and Authoritative Parenting in Hong Kong. Journal of Family Issues, 41(10), 1742-1758.
Lau, E.Y.H., & Power, T. G. (2019). Coparenting, Parenting Stress, and Authoritative Parenting among Hong Kong Chinese Mothers and Fathers. Parenting: Science and Practice, 20(3), 167-176.
Li, J. B., & Lau, E. Y. H. (2019). Teacher-student conflict and preschoolers’ adjustment in the transition to primary school: The role of child self-regulation and parents’ positive relations with others. Early Education and Development, 30, 423-437.
Tao, S. S., Lau, E. Y. H., & Yiu, H. M. (2019). Parental involvement after the transition to school: Are parents’ Expectation matched by experience?. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 33(4), 637-653.
Lau, E. Y. H., & Ng, M. L. (2019). Are they ready for home-school partnership? Perspectives of kindergarten principals, teachers, and parents. Children and Youth Services Review, 99, 10-17.
Chiu, C. Y., & Lau, E. Y. H. (2018). Extracurricular participation and young children’s outcomes in Hong Kong, Parental involvement as a moderator.. Children and Youth Services Review, 88, 476-485.
Lau, E. Y. H, & Power, T. G. (2018). Parental involvement during the transition to primary school: Examining changes and bidirectional relationships with school adjustment.. Children and Youth Services Review, 88, 257-266.
Lau, E. Y. H., Chan, K. K. S., & Lam, C. B. (2018). Social support and adjustment outcomes of first-year university students in Hong Kong: Self-esteem as a mediator. Journal of College Student Development, 59, 129-134.
Lau, E. Y. H. (2017). Parenting and childhood aggression in the Chinese context: An examination of parental responses, physical coercion and warmth.. Early Years: An International Research Journal, N/A, 1-15.
Lau, E. Y. H. (2016). A mixed-methods study of paternal involvement in Hong Kong. British Educational Research Journal, 42(6), 1203-1240.
Lau, E. Y. H., & Cheng, D. P. W. (2016). An exploration of the participation of kindergarten-aged Hong Kong children in extra curricular activities. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 14 (3), 294-309.
Lau. E. Y. H. (2014). Chinese parents’ perceptions and practices of parental involvement during school transition. Early Child Development and Care, 184, 403-415.
Lau, E. Y. H., Li, H., & Rao, N. (2012). Exploring Parental Involvement in Early Years Education in China: Development and Validation of the Chinese Early Parental Involvement Scale (CEPIS). International Journal of Early Years Education, 20 (4), 405-421.
Lau, E. Y. H., & Li, H. (2012). An Overview of Research on Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Education and its Implications (in Chinese). Hong Kong Journal of Early Childhood, 10, 31-37.
Lau, E. Y. H., Li, H., & Rao, N. (2011). Parental involvement and children’s readiness for school in China. Educational Research, 53, 95-113.
Li, H., & Lau, E.Y. H. (2010). Curriculum reforms and kindergarten teachers’ quality: Challenges and solutions (in Chinese). Hong Kong Journal of Early Childhood, 9, 37-41.
Pan, Y. J., Liu, Y., & Lau, E. Y. H (2010). Evaluation of Kindergarten Quality Rating System in Beijing. Early Education and Development, 27, 186-204.
Lau, E.Y. H., & Li, H. (2009). An overview of research on children's relational aggression (in Chinese). Early Childhood Education (Educational Sciences), 442, 51-55.

Conference Papers
Refereed conference paper
Wu, X., Lau, Y.H.E., Li, J., & Chan, K.C.D. (2023, March). Child Routines Mediate Parent-Child Relationships And Child Adjustment During Covid-19 School Suspension In Hong Kong. Paper presented at the Society For Research In Child Development 2023 Biannual Meeting, Utah, USA.
Wu, X., Tao, S., & Lau, Y.H.E. (2022, July). Cognitive Reappraisal And Parenting Practices In Hong Kong Families With Preschoolers: Mindful Parenting As A Mediator. Paper presented at the 22nd Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association (PECERA) Annual Conference, Hong Kong. https://pecera2022.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/PECERA-Annual-Conference-2022-Abstract-3.pdf
Tao, S.S., & Lau, E.Y.H. (2019, July). Emotion Regulation and Parenting: A Longitudinal Study of Parents with Preschoolers. Paper presented at the 20th Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lau, E. Y. H., & Lam, C. B. (2016, April). Co-parenting co-operation and child aggression: Parental efficacy and psychological wellbeing as mediators.. The British Psychological Society Annual Conference 2016., Nottingham, England..
Lau, E. Y. H. (2015, October). A longitudinal study of parent involvement and school liking during school transition.. The Asian Conference on Education 2015., Kobe, Japan..
Lau, E. Y. H. (2015, March). Chinese parental responses to childhood aggression. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Conference, Philadelphia, USA..
Lau, E. Y. H. (2015, March). Psychological control, physical coercion, and parental warmth: Associations with Chinese preschoolers' physical and relational aggression.. Society for Research in Child Development Bienniel Meeting., Philadelphia, USA..
Lau, E. Y. H., & Li, H. (2012, March). Chinese parental involvement in the early years: beliefs and practices. Paper presented at Global Summit on Childhood, Washington D. C., U.S.A..
Lau, E. Y. H., Li, H., & Rao, N. (2011, August). The Impact of Chinese Parental Involvement on Children’s Readiness for School.. Paper presented at the 63rd OMEP World Conference, Hong Kong.
Lau, E. Y. H. (2010, August). Different contexts, different childhoods: The case of Hong Kong early childhood education. Paper presented at the 26th World Congress of OMEP, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Lau, E. Y. H., & Li, H. (2010, August). Examining the influence of demographic factors on parental involvement in early childhood education.. Paper presented at the 26th World Congress of World Organization for Early Childhood Education, Gothenburg, Sweden.


Projects
Parent-Child Relationships and Child Adjustment During the Transition to Kindergarten: a Moderated Mediation Model
--
Project Start Year: 2022, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung Eva 劉怡虹
 
Transition to Parenthood: Testing the Influence of Emotional Regulation on Responsive Parenting through a Moderated Mediation Model
--
Project Start Year: 2022, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung, Eva
 
Observing Parental Sensitivity in The Laboratory Setting
..
Project Start Year: 2020, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung Eva 劉怡虹
 
Rhythm and Movement Intervention for Chinese Pre-schoolers at Home
..
Project Start Year: 2020, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung Eva 劉怡虹
 
Studying Families as Systems
..
Project Start Year: 2020, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung, Eva, LAM, Chun Bun, Ian
 
Social Support and Maternal (Non) Responsiveness among First-time Expectant Mothers in Hong Kong
..
Project Start Year: 2019, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung Eva 劉怡虹
 
Coercive parenting, child temperament, and child aggression: A mixed methods and two-wave longitudinal study
To explore Chinese parents' beliefs on parental control; To identify the bidirectional relations between parental control and child aggression; To examine whether child temperament moderates the associations between parental control and child aggression
Project Start Year: 2018, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung Eva 劉怡虹
 
Coercive Parenting, Child Temperament and Child Aggression: A Mixed-methods and Two-wave Longitudinal Study
..
Project Start Year: 2017, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung Eva 劉怡虹
 
A longitudinal study of parental involvement and school adjustment during the transition to school
The present two-wave longitudinal study will use the mixed-methods and multi-informant approaches to examine parental involvement during the transition to primary school in Hong Kong.
Project Start Year: 2015, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung Eva 劉怡虹
 
A Longitudinal Study of Parental Involvement and Children's School Adjustment During the Transition to School
This pilot study will examine the relationships between parental involvement and school adjustment.Stratified random sampling will be used to recruit one kindergarten in each of the three strata developed based on the median monthly household income of the districts. Within each of the three kindergartens, one upper kindergarten (K3) class with children aged five to six years will be randomly selected. Approximately 80 children and their parents as
well as their lead class teachers will complete a series of tasks. The
parents as well as the kindergarten lead class teachers will report on parental involvement. The teachers will also rate the children’s
school adjustment. The child interview will be conducted to assess
parents’ involvement and children’s school adjustment. The investigation of the proposed model will extend the principal investigator's previous work on parental involvement and contribute to the theoretical understanding of the complex associations between parental involvement and
school adjustment. The findings will also lay the foundation upon which further support can be built in both the local and international communities to facilitate parental involvement from the early education years.
Project Start Year: 2013, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung Eva 劉怡虹
 
An Investigation of Parenting Behaviors and Children’s Aggression during Early Childhood in the Chinese Context
This proposed study aims to investigate the influences of a wide range of parenting behaviros on preschool children’s development of social behaviors.
Project Start Year: 2012, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung Eva 劉怡虹
 
An Investigation of Parenting Behaviors and Young Children’s Aggression
This proposed study aimed to focus on both mothers’ and fathers’ direct parental influences and indirect parental influences on preschool children’s physical and relational aggression in Hong Kong.
Project Start Year: 2012, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung Eva 劉怡虹
 
Chinese Paternal Involvement in Early Childhood Education
This small scale research aimed at examining Chinese paternal involvement in early childhood education by addressing two major research questions: 1) Chinese teachers’ and fathers’ perceptions of paternal involvement in early childhood education; and 2) the practices of Chinese fathers’ involvement in early childhood education.
Project Start Year: 2011, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung Eva 劉怡虹
 
Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Education and Children’s Readiness for School
The present study explored the pattern of parental involvement as well as the
relationship between parental involvement and children’s readiness for school in
the Chinese context. It attempted to move beyond teacher reports to focus
primarily on parents’ reports of their involvement both at home and in school. It
utilised a parent rating that was developed to capture the distinct multidimensional
nature of Chinese parental involvement in early childhood education. Both
parents’ reports of their children’s readiness for school and child tests were
employed to establish the triangulation of assessment.
Project Start Year: 2008, Principal Investigator(s): LAU, Yi Hung Eva 劉怡虹