Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Health equity & stigma
Sexual and gender minorities
Men’s health and masculinities
Psychosocial interventions
Sleep quality
Biography
Dr. Polly Ma is an Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing and Health Sciences of Hong Kong Metropolitan University, and her research focuses on health equity and stigma, sexual and gender minorities, men's health and masculinities, and psychosocial interventions. She earned her PhD from the School of Nursing of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where she investigated the stigma experienced by female sex workers. Dr. Ma has received additional certification training in sexuality education and sexuality counseling from the University of Michigan. She is dedicated to addressing health inequities and enhancing the well-being of vulnerable populations. Dr. Ma collaborates with gender and sexual minorities, people who use drugs, and is interested in utilizing mindfulness and self-compassion to improve mental health outcomes for individuals with stigmatized identities. Furthermore, Dr. Ma has worked in partnership with cancer patients, aiming to bolster their mental health and resilience.
Qualifications
PhD [HKPolyU], MPH [CUHK], M.B. (Nursing) [CDMU]
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Enhancing Nursing Students’ Clinical Competence Through a Community-Partnered LGBTQIA+ Workshop in Hong Kong: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study
Ma, H., Wong, J. Y. H., Ma, Y., Cham, C. Y. C., Chu, T. Y., Tsang, Z. L. Y., Li, S. W. S. & Goh, W. L., Jan 2026, In: Journal of Transcultural Nursing. 37, 1, p. 126-136 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Feasibility and acceptability of a mindful self-compassion intervention for transgender and gender-diverse individuals in Hong Kong: a mixed-method pilot study
Ma, H., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: BMC Psychology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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GPT-Powered Chatbot-Based Positive Psychology Intervention for Well-Being Among Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Single-Arm Mixed Methods Study
Zhang, W., Leung, R. Y. F., Mak, K. K., Ge, H., Kwok, T. T. O., Van Yip Tso, R., Wang, A., Ma, H. & Wong, J. Y., 2026, In: JMIR Formative Research. 10, e85060.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus) -
Obstacles and Enablers Related to Gestational Diabetes Self-Management: Systematic Review Using the Socio-Eecological Model
Luk, B. H. K., MA, H., CHUNG, W. M., Zhang, W. W. & Wing-Kuen Lam, W., 2026, In: JMIR Diabetes. 11, e86767.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
The lived experience of fathers navigating partners with postpartum depression: a phenomenological study
Ma, H., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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An online self-compassion intervention for anxiety and depression in fathers of infants: A feasibility study
MA, H. (PI), Bronya LUK Hi Kwan (CoI) & Dino WONG Ching Kwong (CoI)
1/08/25 → 31/10/26
Project: Research
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A Self-Compassion Intervention for LGBTQ+ Individuals: A Feasibility Study
MA, H. (PI) & LO Sau Kuen (CoI)
1/12/24 → 30/11/25
Project: Research
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Fathers’ lived experience of living with a partner with postpartum depression: a phenomenological study
MA, H. (PI), Bronya LUK Hi Kwan (CoI), Wendy ZHANG Wen (CoI) & William LAM Wing Kuen (CoI)
1/02/24 → 31/07/25
Project: Research