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Sherry Rui SHE
Sherry Rui SHE

BMed, BEcon, PhD

Assistant Professor

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3910 3202

Professor Rui She is an Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong. She received double Bachelor degree of Medicine and Economics from Peking University (1st class honours), and obtained her PhD from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. She has been a visiting researcher at Karolinska Institutet and Nanyang Technological University.

With a multi-disciplinary background spanning medicine, public health, and behavioral medicine, Prof. She’s research integrates population health and health promotion perspectives to understand and improve health outcomes among diseased and vulnerable populations. Her core areas include multimorbidity and aging, with a particular emphasis on the interrelationships between multimorbidity, mental health, functional decline, and quality of life among older adults. She also specializes in developing theory-based and evidence-based interventions to improve self-management, treatment adherence, and health outcomes among patients with chronic diseases.

Prof. She’s work further extends to population mental and behavioral health, including Internet addiction and psychosocial risks among adolescents and young adults, as well as health challenges faced by other vulnerable groups, such as occupational populations and minority groups. By integrating advanced statistical methods—including structural equation modeling, mediation and moderation analysis, and survival analysis—she investigates the complex interactions and mechanisms underlying health behaviors, mental health, and disease outcomes at the population level.

Prof. She has a proven track record of securing competitive external grants and maintains active international collaborations with leading institutions across Asia, Europe, and Australia. Through her integrated programme of research, she aims to translate rigorous epidemiological and population-level evidence into practical, culturally sensitive, and theory-driven interventions that enhance self-care, health management, and psychosocial well-being among vulnerable populations in Hong Kong and globally.

More
  • Aging and multimorbidity
  • Behavioral interventions for chronic disease management
  • Internet addiction and mental health among adolescents and youth adults
  • Population health and big data analysis
Funding Scheme Project Title Approved Amount (HK$)
General Research Fund, Research Grants Council Enhancing Self-care in Individuals with Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity Using a Blended Behavioral Intervention: a Sequential, Multiple Assignment, Randomized Trial 1,145,738
Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), Health Bureau A multi-faceted self-management intervention for improving patient activation and lifestyle behavior modification among people with cardiometabolic multimorbidity: A pilot randomized controlled trial 491,730
Health Medical Research Fund, Research Fellowship Scheme, Health Bureau Integrating behavioral medicine approach in physiotherapy to improve adherence and performance: a mixed-method randomized controlled trial for physical rehabilitation of stroke patients 800,689
Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), Health Bureau A randomized controlled trial to evaluate efficacy of integrated self-affirmation and implementation intention intervention in improving medication adherence among uncontrolled hypertensive patients 1,402,781

a) Multimorbidity and aging research

  1. She R*, Luo H, Chen S, Liu K, Pang M. The interplay of physical multimorbidity and depressive symptoms: mediation role of functional dependence. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. 2026 Jan;35:e21. Available from: doi: 10.1017/S2045796026100626
  2. She R, Newman SP, Kang A, Choo JC, Khoo E, Nandakumar M, Griva K. Prognostication of Mental Health Risk Clusters on Hospitalization and Mortality in Patients with Coexisting Diabetes and Kidney Failure: The Hidden Burden of Loneliness. Kidney Medicine. 2025 Sep 11:101099. Available from: doi: 10.1016/j.xkme.2025.101099
  3. She R, Vetrano DL, Leung MK, Jiang H, Qiu C. Differential interplay between multimorbidity patterns and frailty and their mutual mediation effect on mortality in old age. The Journal of nutrition, health and aging. 2024 Aug 1;28(8):100305. Available from: doi: 10.1016/j.jnha.2024.100305
  4. She R, Yan ZR, Wang P, Liang YJ, Qiu CX. Cardiometabolic and panvascular multimorbidity associated with motoric cognitive risk syndrome in older adults. J Geriatr Cardiol. 2024 Oct 28;21(10):944-953. Available from: doi: 10.26599/1671-5411.2024
  5. She R, Yan Z, Hao Y, Zhang Z, Du Y, Liang Y, Vetrano DL, Dekker J, Bai B, Lau JTF, Qiu C. Health-related quality of life after first-ever acute ischemic stroke: associations with cardiovascular health metrics. Qual Life Res. 2021;30(10):2907-2917. Available from: doi:10.1007/s11136-021-02853-x
  6. She R, Yan Z, Jiang H, Vetrano DL, Lau JTF, Qiu C. Multimorbidity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Old Age: Role of Functional Dependence and Depressive Symptoms. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2019, 20(9):1143-1149. Available from: doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.02.024
  7. She R, Griva K. Self-management and adherence in the context of chronic diseases. Routledge International Handbook Health Psychology, 2025, p.37. Available from: doi: 10.4324/9781003318026-29  (book chapter)

b) Internet addiction and mental health of adolescents and youth

  1. Han Q, Pang M, She R*. Exploring Causal Relationships Between Child Maltreatment and Child Internalising and Externalising Behavioural Problems: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 2026 Mar 15; 397: 120820. Available from: doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.120820
  2. She R, Wang X, Li WM, Chu KC, Yang X. Examining the interaction between internet gaming engagement and psychological needs in adolescents: implications for internet gaming disorder based on a large-scale school-based survey. Current Psychology. 2025 Sep;44(18):14874-87. Available from: doi: 10.1007/s12144-025-08229-5
  3. She R, Mo PK, Li J, Liu X, Jiang H, Chen Y, Ma L, Lau JT. The double-edged sword effect of social networking use intensity on problematic social networking use among college students: The role of social skills and social anxiety. Computers in Human Behavior, 2023 Mar 1;140:107555. Available from: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107555
  4. She R, Zhang Y, Yang X. Parental Factors Associated With Internet Gaming Disorder Among First-Year High School Students: Longitudinal Study. JMIR Serious Games 2022 Nov 8;10(4):e33806. Available from: doi: 10.2196/33806
  5. She R, Wong K, Lin J, Leung K, Zhang Y, Yang X. How COVID-19 stress related to schooling and online learning affects adolescent depression and Internet gaming disorder: Testing Conservation of Resources theory with sex difference. J Behav Addict. 2021 Oct 19;10(4):953-966. Available from: doi: 10.1556/2006.2021.00069.
  6. She R, Yang X, Lau M, Lau J. Psychometric properties and normative data of the 10-item Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale among Chinese adolescent students in Hong Kong. Child Psychiatry & Human Development. 2020 Dec;51(6), 925–933. Available from: doi: 10.1007/s10578-020-00970-1
  7. Yu Y, Peng L, Mo P, Yang X, Cai Y, Ma L, She R*, Lau J*. Association between relationship adaptation and Internet gaming disorder among first-year secondary school students in China: mediation effects via social support and loneliness. Addict Behav. 2022 Feb;125:107166. Available from: doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107166
  8. She R*, Liu A, Luo H, Ma L. Evaluating a Brief Self-Affirmation Intervention to Increase College Students’ Intentions to Reduce Internet Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Computers in Human Behavior Reports. 2026 Jan 29:100954. Available from: 10.1016/j.chbr.2026.100954

c) Mental and behavioral health problems among other vulnerable groups

  1. She R, Li L, Yang Q, Lin J, Ye X, Wu S, Yang Z, Guan S, Zhang J, Lau J. Resilience and Mindfulness as Factors of Posttraumatic Stress and Growth Among Chinese Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mediation via Adaptive Coping and Stigmatisation. Stress and Health. 2025 Jun;41(3):e70037. Available from: doi: 10.1002/smi.70037
  2. She R, Chen X, Li L, Li L, Huang Z, Lau JTF. Factors associated with behavioral intention of free and self-paid severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination based on the social cognitive theory among nurses and doctors in China. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2022 May ;43(5):609-615. Available from: doi: 10.1017/ice.2021.201
  3. She R, Luo S, Lau MM, Lau JTF. The mechanisms between illness representations of COVID-19 and behavioral intention to visit hospitals for scheduled medical consultations in a Chinese general population. J Health Psychol. 2022 Jul;27(8):1846-1860. Available from: doi: 10.1177/13591053211008217
  4. Xin M, Luo S, She R, Yu Y, Li L, Wang S, Ma L, Tao F, Zhang J, Zhao J, Li L, Hu D, Zhang G, Gu J, Lin D, Wang H, Cai Y, Wang Z, You H, Hu G, Lau JT. Negative cognitive and psychological correlates of mandatory quarantine during the initial COVID-19 outbreak in China. Am Psychol. 2020 Jul-Aug;75(5):607-617. Available from: doi: 10.1037/amp0000692
  5. Yu Y#, She R#, Luo S, Xin M, Li L, Wang S, Ma L, Tao F, Zhang J, Zhao J, Li L, Hu D, Zhang G, Gu J, Lin D, Wang H, Cai Y, Wang Z, You H, Hu G, Lau JT. Factors influencing depression and mental distress related to COVID-19 among university students in China: online cross-sectional mediation study. JMIR Mental Health. 2021 Feb 22;8(2):e22705. Available from: doi: 10.2196/22705
  6. She R, Mo P, Ma TC, Liu Y, Lau J. Impact of Minority Stress and Poor Mental Health on Sexual Risk Behaviors among Transgender Women Sex Workers in Shenyang, China. AIDS Behav. 2021 Jun;25(6):1790-1799. Available from: doi: 10.1007/s10461-020-03108-5.
  7. She R, Mo PKH, Cai Y, Ma T, Liu Y, Lau JTF. Mental health service utilisation among transgender women sex workers who are at risk of mental health problems in Shenyang, China: An application of minority stress theory. Health Soc Care Community. 2022 Jul;30(4):e981-e993. Available from: doi: 10.1111/hsc.13501.
2024-present BMC Public Health
2026-present Member, International Association of Applied Psychology
2024-present Member, Society of Behavioural Health, Singapore
Year Scholarship/ Award Institution/ Organization
2026 Young Innovative Researcher Award Hong Kong Polytechnic University (success rate: <10%)
2025 Outstanding Reviewer Award Journal of Sport and Health Science (Impact Factor: 13.1; rank 2/141 in Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism)
2022 Early Career Conference Grant The Association of Commonwealth Universities
2020 Conference Grant. 16th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine The Royal Society of Edinburgh
2018 Conference Grant. 15th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine The United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI)
2015 Outstanding Graduates of Peking University The United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI)
2015 Outstanding Graduates of Peking University Peking University
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