Dr. CHEN Y.C.

yuchih@hku.hk
(852) 3917 2079
CJT-505
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Prof. CHEN Y.C.

Assistant Professor

As a social gerontologist, my research focuses on social determinants of healthy aging, with an emphasis on how economic, environmental, and social/productive behavioral factors shape well-being and multidimensional health in later life. I am interested in how these determinants may contribute to inequality and disparity of health across a life course. Methodologically, I use quantitative and cross-national/cultural comparative approaches to examine the connections across social determinants, life course factors, and health, with multiple externally- (e.g., ECS and GRF) and internationally-funded projects that investigate the links between later-life health and economic (e.g., wealth and financial capability), social engagement (e.g., social isolation and loneliness), environment (e.g., physical and social environments), and productive engagement (e.g., self-employment). Currently, I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at The University of Hong Kong (HKU). I also serve as the deputy coordinator for the Social Policy and Social Development Program (Bachelor of Social Sciences) and the department representative for the Knowledge Exchange Impact Group (Faculty of Social Sciences) at HKU. Before joining HKU, I earned my PhD in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and MSW and BSW from National Taiwan University.

Publications

  • Hu, T.†, Chen, Y. C.* (corresponding author), & Halvorsen, C. (2024). Self-employment transitions and health outcomes in later life: evidence from China. (co-first author). Innovation in Aging, advanced online publication. doi:10.1093/geroni/igae073 [2023 IF=4.9; 2/48 in Gerontology (96.8%; Q1)]
  • Shi, S.†, Chen, Y. C.* (corresponding author), Gugushvili, A., & Yip, P. S. F. (2024). Intergenerational educational mobility and cognitive trajectories among middle-aged and older Chinese people: An application of growth mixture and mobility contrast models in longitudinal analysis. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Social Sciences, gbae125, doi:10.1093/geronb/gbae125 [2023 IF=4.8; 3/48 in Gerontology (94.7%; Q1)]
  • Zhang, Y.†,, Chen, Y. C.* (corresponding author), & Wang, J. S. H. (2023; co-first author). Long-term care insurance and health and perceived satisfaction of older Chinese: Comparisons between urban/rural areas, chronic conditions, and their intersectionality. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 12, 7938. doi:10.34172/ijhpm.2023.7938 [2023 IF=3.1; 26/118 in Health Policies & Services (78.4%; Q1)]
  • Chen, Y. C.* (corresponding author) & Sun, S. (2023). Gender difference in the relationship between financial capability and health in later life: Evidence from Hong Kong. Innovation in Aging, igad072 (advanced online publication). doi:10.1093/geroni/igad072 (Ranking Q1 in Gerontology [top 4.1%], 2022 IF=7.0)
  • Chen, Y. C.* (corresponding author), Taylor, H. O., Hung, N.†, & Chan, C. L. W. (2023). Later-life depressive symptoms during the Covid-19 pandemic: Investigations of individual, cumulative, and synergistic effects of social isolation. Aging & Mental Health (advanced online publication). doi:10.1080/13607863.2023.2172137(Ranking: Q2 in Gerontology [top 33.8%], 2022 IF=3.4)

External Research Funding

  • 2023-2025 Social isolation and loneliness in later life: A cross-national comparative cohort study. General Research Fund (GRF), Research Grants Council. Principal investigator (PI); HK$ 586,192
  • 2022-2023 Multilevel antecedents and longitudinal Impacts of self-employment in ageing China: An 8-year follow-up. Early Career Scheme (ECS), Research Grants Council. Principal investigator (PI); HK$ 391,181
  • 2020-2022 Does financial capability affect health in later life? Environmental and life course antecedents, distinct profiles, and longitudinal impacts. Seed Grant for Basic Research, The University of Hong Kong. Principal investigator (PI); HK$ 279,006
  • 2020-2021 Dynamics of wealth and wealth poverty in later life: Life course determinants and health consequences among older Americans and Chinese. Seed Fund, Social Policy Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, USA. Principal investigator (PI); US$ 10,000
  • 2019-2022. Social determinants and longitudinal changes in activity engagement in later life: A cross-national comparison across US, China, and South Korea. Startup Fund, The University of Hong Kong. Principal investigator (PI); HK$ 500,000
  • 2023-2024. Study on the Amendment to the Taiwan Public Assistance Act (社會救助法修法規劃研究案). Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan. Co-principal investigator (Co-PI); NT$ 1,470,000
  • 2021-2025. E2Power: Engagement and Empowerment of communities through social capital development. Research Impact Fund (RIF), Research Grants Council. Co-principal investigator (Co-PI); HK$ 4,900,000

Honor (fellowship, award, honorary appointments)

  • Research Advisory (2022-2023). Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
  • Fellow (2021-2025). Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR
  • Faculty affiliate (2020-2023). Social Policy Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, USA

Key Community Services

  • Editorial Board Committee, Journal of Gerontological Social Work
  • Academic Editor, PLOS ONE
  • Program Director, Social Policy and Social Development Program, Bachelor of Social Science, The University of Hong Kong
  • Department Representative, Knowledge Exchange Impact Group, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong