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Healthy Aging
Healthy Aging
As the global population ages, promoting healthy, fulfilling, and connected lifespans requires multifaceted, data-driven solutions. Our research in Healthy Aging synergizes public health, social work, and communication to address the physical, cognitive, and social dimensions of growing older. Driven by our belief in the "Limitless" potential of individuals at any age, we leverage quantitative methodologies to understand the aging process and design interventions that improve the quality of life for older adults in an increasingly digital world.
Featured publication
Zeng, Y., Huang, S., Lu, P., Luo, L., Lu, H., Yu, X., Huang, Y., Kobayashi, LC., Guo, L., & Li, C. Association and Mediating Pathways between Intergenerational Educational Mobility and Depressive Symptoms: Findings from High- and Middle-income Countries. BMC Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-026-04808-w
Huang, S., Lai, W., Zhao, Y., Pan, K., Xu, H., Lin, S., Liao, M., Lu, P., Wu, Y., Yang, W., Song, P., He, H., Hu, Y., Li, C. Hypertension, Antihypertensive Treatment, and Memory Decline: Consistent and Divergent Patterns in Aging Populations across Four Countries, 2010–2019. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2026.108343
Huang, Y., Li, C., & Lu, P. (2026). Multigenerational social mobility and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Chinese. Journal of Gerontology B: Social Science. 81(3), gbag005 https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbag005
Lu, P., Yin, H., & Li, C. (2025). Sex differences in employment history and old age cognition: evidence from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Journal of Women & Aging. 37 (4), 268-283. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2025.2513704
Li, C., Liu, C., Ye, C, Lian, Z., & Lu, P.* (2025). Education, gender, and frequent pain among middle-aged and older populations in the US, England, China, and India. Pain, 166(2), 388-397. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003349
Ongoing Projects
Housing insecurity in Hong Kong and beyond
This project, entitled "housing insecurity in a super-aged society: a mixed-method study on the living experience in Hong Kong housing and the pathway to healthy aging", is funded by HK Early Career Scheme. It aims to develop a conceptual framework linking housing insecurity to healthy aging and a tool to measure housing insecurity tailored to older population.
Digital Inclusion
Digital Inclusion
As emerging technologies—from algorithmic platforms to artificial intelligence—reshape how we understand the world and interact with one another, ensuring equitable participation in these mediated environments is a pressing global challenge. At the L-Cubic (L3) Lab, our research in Digital Inclusion bridges communication, social work, and public health to examine how diverse populations experience and adapt to the rapid digitalization of society. Guided by our core value of "Love" and a commitment to empowering communities, we investigate how to make digital spaces meaningful, safe, and socially grounded for everyone.
Featured publication
Ongoing Projects
- AI-mediated Comm and Perceived Authenticity
This project employ mate-analysis as an approach to examines whether and how AI-mediated communication affects perceived authenticity of interpersonal, masspersonal, and mass communication outcomes.
- Network & Behavior in Game
This project employ mate-analysis as an approach to examines whether and how AI-mediated communication affects perceived authenticity of interpersonal, masspersonal, and mass communication outcomes.
- AI NPCs, Player Relationships, and Well-Being
This project examines how AI NPC features shape players' psychological need satisfaction and behavioral outcomes, and how players' perceived network position moderates these effects, within the mobile massive multiplayer online game, Justice Online (逆水寒手游).
- Message Cues, Physical Reactions, and Food PSA Effectiveness
This project investigates how visual cues (healthy vs. junk food) and verbal claims ("Do" vs. "Don't") in food Public Service Announcements (PSAs) interact to influence perceived effectiveness. Grounded in the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework, the study utilizes psychophysiological measures to track real-time audience processing. By applying the LC4MP and ELM models, the research examines how these message features drive cognitive attention, measured by heart rate deceleration, and emotional arousal, measured by skin conductance, to ultimately predict conscious message evaluation.
Social Welfare
Social Welfare
In today’s rapidly evolving society, social welfare extends beyond traditional support systems to encompass the holistic well-being of individuals navigating complex physical and digital environments. Grounded in a commitment to "Learn" and "Love," the L3 Lab addresses systemic inequalities and psychosocial challenges through rigorous quantitative research. We aim to translate empirical insights into actionable interventions that empower marginalized communities and promote health equity.
Featured publication
Lu, P., & Li, C. (2026). Effect of old age subsidy on the mental health of older Chinese: Evidence from a regression discontinuity design. Journal of Aging & Social Policy. 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2026.2653870
Lu, P., Kong, D., Shelley, M. & Li, C. (2026). Health effect of elderly family planning subsidy on older Chinese with only one child. Journal of Aging and Social Policy.38(2), 240-258. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2024.2422659
Ongoing Projects
Eldercare policy in the Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macau Greater Bay Area
A pilot study is investigating the living experiences of older adults in residential care home in Hong Kong and Guangdong. The project is funded by HKU Seed Fund for PI Research – Basic Research.
Evaluating health effects of social welfare policies
Using secondary data sources such as CHARLS and HRS, we apply rigorous causal inference approaches, including propensity score matching, regression discontinuity design, and difference-in-differences, to evaluate the effects of social welfare policies in China and other countries.
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