Profile of Dr GAO, Xiaozi 高晓姿 - The Education University of Hong Kong


Assistant Professor	Department of Early Childhood Education

Contact

ORCiD

0000-0003-1452-7957

Phone

(852) 2948 8864

Fax

(852) 2948 7160

gaox@eduhk.hk

Address

10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong

Website

https://pappl.eduhk.hk/rich/web/person.xhtml?pid=194072&name=GAO, Xiaozi

Scopus ID

57224120629

SDGs

3 - Good Health and Well-Being
4 - Quality Education
10 - Reduced Inequality

Research Outputs


Journal Publications Gao, X., Ye, F. T.-F., Lee, K., Bautista, A., Sin, K.-F., & Yang, L (2024). Parents differ in their sensitivity to the environment: An investigation of the relationship between socioeconomic status, social support, and child maltreatment risks. Child Abuse and Neglect, 158, Article 107131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107131 Gao, X., Ye, F. T.-F., Lee, K., Bautista, A., Sin, K.-F., & Yang, L. (2024). Chaotic or crowded? The role of physical household environment in children's learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 100, Article 102474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102474 Permpoonputtana, K., Nakkongkam, C., Thichanpiang, P., Kaunnil, A., Lee, K., Gao, X., ... & Kunwittaya, S (2024). Measuring parental attitudes in four Thai provinces: Adaptation and validation of the Parental Attitudes Towards Their Child’s Outdoor Recreation (PACOR) questionnaire. Journal of Health Research, 38(6), 499-508. https://doi.org/10.56808/2586-940X.1108 Hung, H., Hu, B., Curby, T.W., Gao, X., & Lv, Bo (2024). Early parenting styles and children’s social skills in China: A longitudinal exploration of mediating mechanism. Early Child Development and Care, 194(11-12), 1138-1152. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2024.2404007 Wang, Z., Gao, X., & Shao, Y. (2024). Earlier false belief understanding predicts later lie-telling in preschool children, but not vice versa. Social Development, e12757, e12757. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12757 Gao, X., Lee, K., & Permpoonputtana, K. (2023). Socioeconomic status and parenting-related differences in preschoolers' working memory. Learning and Individual Differences, 109, 102406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2023.102406 Ye, F. T.-F., Gao, X., Sin, K.-F., & Yang, L. (2023). Remote learning and mental health during the societal lockdown: A study of primary school students and parents in times of COVID-19. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1106. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16040-9 Xu, H., Wang, Z., Gao, X., Wang, X., & Wu, Q. (2023). Psychometric validation of the sibling inventory of behavior in three- to six-year-old Chinese children. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. Doi:fpsyg.2023.1124518. Wang, Z., Wang, L., Gao, X., & Zhu, L. (2023). Cognitive flexibility moderates the association between theory of mind and children’s offer in the Ultimatum Game (La flexibilidad cognitiva modera la relación entre la teoría de la mente y las ofertas de los niños en el Juego del Ultimátum). Journal for the Study of Education and Development, 46(2), 264-284. https://doi.org/10.1080/02103702.2022.2159618 Gao, X. & Wang, Z. (2021). Parental neuroticism and negative discipline: The role of household chaos and parental perspective-taking. Journal of Family Psychology, 36(3), 458. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000887 Gao, X. & Lee, K (2021). Factorial Structure and Cross-Cultural Invariance of the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form in Hong Kong and Thailand. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1319.
Conference Papers Gao, X., Lee, K, & Lyu, B., (2025, May). An investigation of the longitudinal relationship between executive function and theory of mind. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting (SRCD 2025), Minneapolis, USA Gao, X., & Wang, Z. (2024, June). Parental mind-mindedness and problem behaviors among preschoolers: The role of child negative emotionality. The 1st International Conference for Research in Early Childhood Education and Development (InCRECE, 2024), Tai Po, Hong Kong. Gao, X., Lee, K., Permpoonputtana, K., Plitponkarnpim, A., & Ruksee, N. (2024, June). Child maltreatment and working memory in young children: Evidence from Thailand. The 27th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD 2024), Lisbon, Portugual. Gao, X., Ye, F. T.-F., Lee, K. & Sin, K.-F. (2024, June). Psychometric properties of the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders.. The 27th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD 2024), Lisbon, Portugual.. Gao, X. & Wang, Z. (2023, March). The relationship between parents' reward inconsistency and children's strategic social behaviors. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting (SRCD 2023), Salt Lake, USA. Lee, K., Gao, X., Permpoonputtana, K, Chaiyasarn, P., & Nethanomsak, T. (2023, March). The moderating role of SES on the relation between parenting-related factors and children’s working memory. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting (SRCD 2023), Salt Lake, USA. Wang, Z., Gao, X, & Shao,Yihan (2023, 3) Earlier theory of mind predicts later lie-telling in preschool children. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting (SRCD 2023), Salt Lake, USA GAO, X., & WANG, Z. (2021, April). Parental neuroticism and limit-setting: The role of household chaos and parental perspective-taking. Society for Research in Child Development Virtual Biennial Meeting, Virtual. Wang, Z., & Gao, X. (2019, July). Parental mind-mindedness and child social cognitive development during early childhood. World Education Research Association (WERA) Focal Meeting, Tokyo, Japan.

Journal Publications
Gao, X., Ye, F. T.-F., Lee, K., Bautista, A., Sin, K.-F., & Yang, L (2024). Parents differ in their sensitivity to the environment: An investigation of the relationship between socioeconomic status, social support, and child maltreatment risks. Child Abuse and Neglect, 158, Article 107131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107131
Gao, X., Ye, F. T.-F., Lee, K., Bautista, A., Sin, K.-F., & Yang, L. (2024). Chaotic or crowded? The role of physical household environment in children's learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 100, Article 102474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102474
Permpoonputtana, K., Nakkongkam, C., Thichanpiang, P., Kaunnil, A., Lee, K., Gao, X., ... & Kunwittaya, S (2024). Measuring parental attitudes in four Thai provinces: Adaptation and validation of the Parental Attitudes Towards Their Child’s Outdoor Recreation (PACOR) questionnaire. Journal of Health Research, 38(6), 499-508. https://doi.org/10.56808/2586-940X.1108
Hung, H., Hu, B., Curby, T.W., Gao, X., & Lv, Bo (2024). Early parenting styles and children’s social skills in China: A longitudinal exploration of mediating mechanism. Early Child Development and Care, 194(11-12), 1138-1152. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2024.2404007
Wang, Z., Gao, X., & Shao, Y. (2024). Earlier false belief understanding predicts later lie-telling in preschool children, but not vice versa. Social Development, e12757, e12757. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12757
Gao, X., Lee, K., & Permpoonputtana, K. (2023). Socioeconomic status and parenting-related differences in preschoolers' working memory. Learning and Individual Differences, 109, 102406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2023.102406
Ye, F. T.-F., Gao, X., Sin, K.-F., & Yang, L. (2023). Remote learning and mental health during the societal lockdown: A study of primary school students and parents in times of COVID-19. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1106. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16040-9
Xu, H., Wang, Z., Gao, X., Wang, X., & Wu, Q. (2023). Psychometric validation of the sibling inventory of behavior in three- to six-year-old Chinese children. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. Doi:fpsyg.2023.1124518.
Wang, Z., Wang, L., Gao, X., & Zhu, L. (2023). Cognitive flexibility moderates the association between theory of mind and children’s offer in the Ultimatum Game (La flexibilidad cognitiva modera la relación entre la teoría de la mente y las ofertas de los niños en el Juego del Ultimátum). Journal for the Study of Education and Development, 46(2), 264-284. https://doi.org/10.1080/02103702.2022.2159618
Gao, X. & Wang, Z. (2021). Parental neuroticism and negative discipline: The role of household chaos and parental perspective-taking. Journal of Family Psychology, 36(3), 458. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000887
Gao, X. & Lee, K (2021). Factorial Structure and Cross-Cultural Invariance of the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form in Hong Kong and Thailand. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1319.

Conference Papers
Gao, X., Lee, K, & Lyu, B., (2025, May). An investigation of the longitudinal relationship between executive function and theory of mind. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting (SRCD 2025), Minneapolis, USA
Gao, X., & Wang, Z. (2024, June). Parental mind-mindedness and problem behaviors among preschoolers: The role of child negative emotionality. The 1st International Conference for Research in Early Childhood Education and Development (InCRECE, 2024), Tai Po, Hong Kong.
Gao, X., Lee, K., Permpoonputtana, K., Plitponkarnpim, A., & Ruksee, N. (2024, June). Child maltreatment and working memory in young children: Evidence from Thailand. The 27th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD 2024), Lisbon, Portugual.
Gao, X., Ye, F. T.-F., Lee, K. & Sin, K.-F. (2024, June). Psychometric properties of the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders.. The 27th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD 2024), Lisbon, Portugual..
Gao, X. & Wang, Z. (2023, March). The relationship between parents' reward inconsistency and children's strategic social behaviors. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting (SRCD 2023), Salt Lake, USA.
Lee, K., Gao, X., Permpoonputtana, K, Chaiyasarn, P., & Nethanomsak, T. (2023, March). The moderating role of SES on the relation between parenting-related factors and children’s working memory. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting (SRCD 2023), Salt Lake, USA.
Wang, Z., Gao, X, & Shao,Yihan (2023, 3) Earlier theory of mind predicts later lie-telling in preschool children. Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting (SRCD 2023), Salt Lake, USA
GAO, X., & WANG, Z. (2021, April). Parental neuroticism and limit-setting: The role of household chaos and parental perspective-taking. Society for Research in Child Development Virtual Biennial Meeting, Virtual.
Wang, Z., & Gao, X. (2019, July). Parental mind-mindedness and child social cognitive development during early childhood. World Education Research Association (WERA) Focal Meeting, Tokyo, Japan.

Projects


From Home to the Classroom: An Investigation of the Relation between Environmental Chaos and Children’s Executive Function Environmental chaos, characterized by disorganization, inconsistent routines, and elevated noise levels, impairs children's executive function (EF), a crucial cognitive process for academic and lifelong success (Andrews et al., 2020; Gao et al., 2023). While extensive research exists on household chaos effects, limited studies examine classroom chaos impact on EF, despite children spending increasing time in educational settings (Hong Kong Education Bureau, 2021). Even fewer studies investigate the combined effects of both environments. The bioecological model suggests that home and school function as interconnected microsystems, where positive experiences in one setting may offset negative experiences in another (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006; Berry et al., 2016). This study aims to: 1) assess the relative contributions of household and classroom chaos to children's EF; and 2) explore whether well-structured classrooms can mitigate household chaos effects. Using a longitudinal design with multilevel analyses, the findings will provide insights particularly relevant to fast-paced metropolitan areas like Hong Kong and offer actionable information for improving parent-child and teacher-child interactions in chaotic environments. Project Start Year: 2025, Principal Investigator(s): GAO, Xiaozi
Orthographic Executive Functions: A Missing Component for Understanding Early Writing Ability in Chinese? Chinese is one of the most challenging writing systems to learn due to its complex orthographic characteristics. Orthographic knowledge – the understanding of how orthographic units are structurally combined to form characters – is thus an essential foundation for early writing development. However, whether orthographic knowledge alone is sufficient for young children to handle the complexity of Chinese characters remains largely unknown. In this study, a novel concept – orthographic executive functions (EF) – is proposed to represent a crucial yet overlooked cognitive aspect of orthographic competence. We propose that successful young writers not only need to be equipped with orthographic knowledge, but they also need to exercise EF skills for coordinating such a complex system of orthographic knowledge during the process of writing. To test our hypothesis, we will develop tasks to assess four potential types of orthographic EF skills – orthographic working memory, orthographic inhibition control, orthographic cognitive flexibility, and orthographic planning – of 160 kindergarten children aged 4.5 to 6 years. If these EF skills are found to have a unique and significant contribution to children’s word writing ability after controlling for a range of writing-related factors, our findings will provide an important contribution to the theoretical understanding of Chinese early writing development.Apart from examining the importance of orthographic EF as a unique predictor of word writing, our study also aims to examine how orthographic EF may be related to the ability to copy characters, which is traditionally considered as a necessary pre-requisite for word writing. In this study, a cross-lagged autoregressive model is proposed to systematically examine the development of orthographic knowledge, orthographic EF, and copying ability in relation to each other longitudinally from K2 to K3. Cross-lagged panel analysis will be conducted to clarify whether copying ability indeed has a causal role in facilitating the orthographic components of writing as traditionally assumed. Ultimately, the contribution of the interaction between orthographic EF skills and copying ability to word writing will be studied. Project Start Year: 2025, Principal Investigator(s): FONG, Yui Chi (GAO, Xiaozi as Co-Investigator)
Household Chaos and Individuals’ Well-Being Among Hong Kong Families: A Preliminary Investigation .. Project Start Year: 2023, Principal Investigator(s): GAO, Xiaozi