Faculty of Health and Social Sciences

繁體 简体
MyRS
Start main content
  1. Home
  2. People
  3. Academic Staff
  4. Dr Stephen LAU

Academic Staff

Page Banner-02-01-01
Dr Stephen LAU

Dr Stephen LAU

Assistant Professor, Presidential Young Scholar

PhD (WashU), BscOT (PolyU)

Biography

Dr Lau earned his PhD in Rehabilitation and Participation Science at Washington University School of Medicine and completed his postdoctoral fellowship in sleep medicine and complex interventions at the University of Pittsburgh. Before joining the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, he was an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine.

Dr Lau’s research centres on the intersection of mental health, sleep, and cognition. His mission is to develop precise and accessible personalised rehabilitation programmes to minimise disability and maximise health in the community. He seeks to understand the complex mechanisms linking sleep, mental health, and cognition. His research leverages mobile health technologies to provide real-time in vivo monitoring, identifying factors that contribute to poor outcomes after neurological disorders. This work informs the development of complex interventions that improve patients' health and support their functioning in the community. His research has led to publications in leading journals in rehabilitation and sleep medicine, and he was recognised as a Young Investigator by the NIH-funded Centre for Large Data Research in Rehabilitation and awarded the 2024 Young Investigator Award by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Education and Academic Qualifications

  • Postdoctoral fellowship in complex intervention and sleep medicine, University of Pittsburgh
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation and Participation Science, Washington University School of Medicine
  • Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Occupational Therapy, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Professional Qualifications

  • Registered Occupational Therapist (HK)
  • Certified Leader, Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP)

Research Interests

  • Mental health
  • Circadian sleep-activity rhythms
  • Cognition
  • Ecological momentary assessment and actigraphy
  • Clinical trials

Research Output

    1. Lau, S.C.L., Bright, L., Connor, L.T., & Baum, M.C. (2024). Stroke Survivors’ Experiences with ambulatory monitoring using mobile health technology: Qualitative study. OTJR Occupation Participation and Health, DOI: 10.1177/15394492241238948.
    2. Lau, S.C.L., Zhang, G., Rueschman, M., Li, X., Irwin, M.R., Krafty, R.T., McCall, W.V., Skidmore, E.R., Patel, S.R., Redline, S., & Smagula, S.F. (2024). Sleep-wake behavioral characteristics associated with depression symptoms: Findings from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. SLEEP, DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsae045.
    3. Lau, S.C.L., Connor, L.T., & Skidmore, E.R. (2024). Associations of circadian rest-activity rhythms with affect and cognition in community-dwelling stroke survivors: An ambulatory assessment study. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, DOI: 10.1177/15459683241230027.
    4. Lau, S.C.L., Hall M.H., Terhorst, L., & Skidmore, E.R. (2023). Bidirectional temporal associations between sleep and affect and cognitive complaints among community-dwelling stroke survivors: An ecological momentary assessment study. PM&R, DOI: 10.1002/pmrj.13108.
    5. Bright, L., Wei, T., Lau, S.C.L, & Baum, M.C. (2023). An exploratory study of young stroke survivors’ lived experiences: A multi-methods study using developmental theory. OTJR Occupation Participation and Health, DOI: 10.1177/15394492231196783.
    6. Baum, M.C, Lau, S.C.L., Heinemann, A.W., & Connor, L.T. (2023). Functional cognition is distinct from fluid and crystallized cognition. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(3):7703205020, DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2023.050010.
    7. Lau, S.C.L., Connor, L.T., & Baum, M.C. (2023). Motivation, physical activity, and depressive symptomatology among community-dwelling stroke survivors: An ambulatory assessment approach. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaac065.
    8. Lau, S.C.L., Connor, L.T., Skidmore, E.R., Lee, J-M., King, A.A., & Baum, M.C. (2022). The moderating role of motivation in the real-time associations of fatigue, cognitive complaints, and pain with depressed mood among stroke survivors: An ecological momentary assessment study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2022.11.012.
    9. Lau, S.C.L., Connor, L.T., & Baum, M.C. (2022). Associations between basic psychological need satisfaction and motivation underpinning daily activity participation among community-dwelling stroke survivors: An ecological momentary assessment study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2022.07.011.
    10. Lau, S.C.L., Connor, L.T., King, A.A., & Baum, M.C. (2022). Multimodal ambulatory monitoring of daily activity and health-related symptoms in community-dwelling stroke survivors: feasibility, validity, and acceptability. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, S0003-9993(22), 00484-1, DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2022.06.002.
    11. Lau, S.C.L., Connor, L.T., Heinemann, A.W., Baum, M.C. (2022). Cognition and daily life activities in stroke: A network analysis. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, DOI: 10.1177/15394492221111730.
    12. Lau, S.C.L., Judycki, S., Mix, M., DePaul, O., Tomazin, R., Hardi, A., Wong, A.W.K., & Baum, M.C. (2022). Theory-based self-management interventions for community-dwelling stroke survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2022.049117.
    13. Lau, S.C.L., Drake, B.F., Sanders-Thompson V.L., & Baum, M.C. (2022). Racial variation in the association between domains of depressive symptomatology and functional recovery in stroke survivors. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, DOI: 10.1007/s40615-022-01293-8.
    14. Lau, S.C.L., Connor, L.T., Lee, J-M., Baum, M.C. (2022). Depressive symptomatology and functional status among stroke survivors: A network analysis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 103(7), 1345-1351, DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2022.01.143.
    15. Lau, S.C.L., Baum, M.C., Connor, L.T., & Chang, C-H. (2022). Psychometric properties of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale in stroke survivors. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, DOI: 10.1080/10749357.2022.2026280.
    16. Lau, S.C.L., Connor, L.T., & Baum, M.C. (2021). Subjective and objective assessments are associated for physical function but not cognitive function in community-dwelling stroke survivors. Disability and Rehabilitation, DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2021.2012845.
    17. Lau, S.C.L., Bhattacharjya, S., Fong, M.W.M., Nicol, G.E., Lenze, E.J., Baum, M.C., Hardi, A., & Wong, A.W.K. (2020). Effectiveness of theory-based digital self-management interventions for improving depression, anxiety, fatigue and self-efficacy in people with neurological disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 1357633X20955122, DOI:10.1177/1357633X20955122.
    18. Heary, K.O., Wong, A.W.K., Lau, S.C.L., Dengler, J., Thompson, M.R., Crock, L.W., Novak, C.B., Philip, B., Mackinnon, S.E. (2020). Quality of life and psychosocial factors predict post-operative pain relief. HAND, 1558944720911213, DOI: 10.1177/1558944720911213.
    19. Wong, A.W.K., Lau, S.C.L., Fong, M.W.M., Cella, D., J.S., Xie, & Heinemann, A.W. (2018). Conceptual underpinnings of the quality of life in neurological disorders (Neuro-QoL): Comparisons of core sets for stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, S0003-9993(18), 30206-5, DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2018.03.002.
    20. Hong, W-J, Tao, J., Wong, A.W.K., Yang, S-L, Leung, M-T, Lee, T.M.C., Demeyere, N., Lau, S.C.L., Chien, C-W, Chan, C.C.H., Chen, L-D. (2018). Psychometric properties of the Chinese (Putonghua) version of the Oxford Cognitive Screen (OCS-P) in sub-acute post-stroke patients without neglect. BioMed Research International, 2018, 6827854, DOI: 10.1155/2018/6827854.
    21. Wong, A.W.K., Chang, T.T., Christopher, K., Lau, S.C.L., Beaupin, L.K., Love, B., Lipsey, K.L. & Feuerstein, M. (2017). Patterns of unmet needs in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors: In their own words. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 11(6), 751-764, DOI: 10.1007/s11764-017-0613-4.
    22. Chan, S.C.C., Chan, C.C.H., Derbie, A.Y., Hui, I., Tan, D.G.H, Pang, M.Y.C., Lau, S.C.L., Fong, K.N.K. (2017). Chinese calligraphy writing for augmenting attentional control of older adults at risk of mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 58(3), 735-746, DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170024.
    23. Wong, A.W.K., Lau, S.C.L., Cella, D., Lai, J.S., Xie, G., Chen, L., Chan, C.C.H., & Heinemann, A.W. (2017). Linking of the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL) to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Quality of Life Research, 26(9), 2435-2448, DOI: 10.1007/s11136-017-1590-9.

     

Subscription to RS News

We use Cookies to give you a better experience on our website. By continuing to browse the site without changing your privacy settings, you are consenting to our use of Cookies. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy Statement.

Your browser is not the latest version. If you continue to browse our website, Some pages may not function properly.

You are recommended to upgrade to a newer version or switch to a different browser. A list of the web browsers that we support can be found here