Prof. CHAI Lei
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Prof. CHAI Lei
Prof. CHAI Lei
Assistant Professor
lchai@hku.hk
(852) 3917 4373
CJT-521
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Biography

Lei Chai received his PhD in Sociology from the University of Toronto in 2022 and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the same department in 2023. His research focuses on health and mental health disparities across the life course. His recent work examines how economic hardship (e.g., financial strain and food insecurity) shapes mental health outcomes in the context of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Selected Publications
  • Chai, L. (2024). Perceived Community Belonging as a Moderator: Effects of Childhood Abuse on Health and Well-Being Among Middle-Aged and Older Canadians. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 67(4), 474-491.
  • Chai, L. (2023). Financial strain and psychological distress among middle-aged and older adults: a moderated mediation model. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 66(8), 1120-1132.
  • Chai, L., & Schieman, S. (2023). What happens at home does not stay at home: Family-to-work conflict and the link between relationship strains and quality. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 44(1), 175-192.
  • Chai, L. (2022). Does religion buffer against the detrimental effect of cyberbullying victimization on adults’ health and well-Being? Evidence from the 2014 Canadian General Social Survey. Journal of interpersonal violence, 37(21-22), NP19983-NP20011.
  • Chai, L., Schieman, S., & Bierman, A. (2021). Financial strain and psychological distress: Do strains in the work-family interface mediate the effects?. Society and Mental Health, 11(2), 168-182.
Key Community Services
  • Editorial Board Social Science Research January 2025-Present