TEAM LEADER AND PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Biography:

​Dr Cao’s research is focuses on social cognition (i.e., the ability to understand and relate to other people’s thoughts and emotions) and social affect related to stereotypes (e.g., racism, ageism). These are relevant to both healthy populations and people with different mental health problems (e.g., schizophrenia, depression, anxiety). She uses a combination of behavioural tasks (e.g., computer-based games, questionnaires) and brain-imaging techniques (e.g., fMRI) to better understand social cognition and social affect across the lifespan. Dr Cao worked as a practising psychologist at a community health clinic and a researcher at an NGO in Australia, before returning to Hong Kong to work in academia. Her work experience across different settings has inspired her to conduct basic research with the potential of improving practice in the future. She is also interested in training and teaching students to develop a curious, scientist mindset when serving clients in clinical practice.

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Five most representative publications within 5 years

1. Cao, Y., Kwan, G. S. Y., Tse, Z. C. K., Chow, K. K. S., Kwan, D. K. S., Lam, W. W. Y., & Shum, D. H. K. (2024). Managing uncertainty and loneliness: Protective and risk factors impacting on older people’s mental health in Hong Kong. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2024.2423678

2. Li, D., Cao, Y., Hui, B. P. H., & Shum, D. H. K. (2024). Are Older Adults More Prosocial Than Younger Adults? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Gerontologist, 64(9), gnae082. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnae082

3. Cao, Y., Siu, J. Y-m, Shek, D. T. L., & Shum, D. H. K. (2022). COVID-19 one year on: Identification of at-risk groups for psychological trauma and poor health-protective behaviour using a telephone survey. BMC Psychiatry, 22, 252. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-03904-4

4. Siu, J. Y., Cao, Y., & Shum, D. H. K. (2022). Perceptions of and hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccination in older Chinese adults in Hong Kong: a qualitative study. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 288. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03000-y

5. Lohan, A., Cao, Y., Petch, J., Murray, J., & Howe, E. (2021). Does relationship counselling for one work? An effectiveness study of routine relationship counselling services where only one individual attends. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 42, 320-335. https://doi.org/10.1002/anzf.1458

Five most representative publications beyond 5 years

1. Cao, Y., Yusri, N. M., Powell, T., & Cunnington, R. (2019). Neural and behavioral markers of observed pain of older adults. Neuropsychologia, 131, 84-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.04.012

2. Waters, A. M., Cao, Y., Kershaw, R., Kerbler, G. M., Shum, D. H. K., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Craske, M. G., Bradley, B. P., Mogg, K., Pine, D. S., & Cunnington, R. (2018). Changes in neural activation underlying attention processing of emotional stimuli following treatment with positive search training in anxious children. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 55, 22-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.02.004

3. Cao, Y., Dingle, G., Chan, G. C. K., & Cunnington, R. (2017). Low mood leads to increased empathic distress at seeing others’ pain. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 2024. 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02024

4. Cao, Y., Contreras-Huerta, L. S., McFadyen, J. J., & Cunnington, R. (2015). Racial bias in neural response to others’ pain is reduced with other-race contact. Cortex, 70, 68-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2015.02.010

5. Zong, J., Cao, X., Cao, Y., Shi, Y., Wang, Y., Yan, C., Abela, J. R. Z., Gan, Y., Gong, Q., & Chan, R. C. K. (2010). Coping flexibility in college students with depressive symptoms. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 8, 66. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-8-66