Open doctoral topics | Specialisation in Psychology

DOCPSY-2026-06: Psychological Impacts of Film and Cinema: Narrative Engagement, Emotional Processing, and Therapeutic Applications🔗

Films and cinematic narratives profoundly shape psychological processes, from evoking empathy and emotional catharsis to influencing attitudes toward mental health, identity formation, and well-being. This research line explores how viewers engage with film stories through mechanisms such as identification with characters, transportation into narratives, social comparison, and vicarious emotional experiences, and examines outcomes such as reduced stigma around mental disorders, enhanced self-reflection, mood regulation, and therapeutic insight. It may investigate cinematic portrayals of psychological themes (e.g., trauma, resilience, relationships, mental illness) and their effects on diverse audiences, including cross-cultural variations in interpretation and impact. A key focus is on cinematherapy (or cinema therapy) as an adjunct intervention: using selected films to facilitate emotional processing, insight, coping skill-building, or stigma reduction in clinical, educational, or community settings. Studies could assess literacy/attitudes pre-/post-viewing, mechanisms of change (e.g., narrative persuasion, mirror neuron activation, self-compassion), or intervention efficacy (e.g., group discussions, reflective writing after viewing). Qualitative approaches (e.g., viewer interviews, thematic analysis of reflections), quantitative methods (e.g., surveys on empathy/stigma scales, pre/post emotional measures), experimental designs (e.g., controlled viewing studies), or mixed methods are encouraged, with implications for mental health promotion, media literacy programs, therapeutic training, and public understanding of psychology through cinema.

Supervisor(s): Sin U Leong Brochado (leong.sin.u@usj.edu.mo), Joao Brochado (joao.brochado@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Health Sciences

Keywords: Cinema Therapy, Cinematherapy, Mental Health Portrayals, Narrative Psychology, Film Psychology, Media Effects, Emotional Processing

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DOCPSY-2026-05: Personal Electronic Devices and Technology Use Among Older Adults: Mental Health Impacts, Digital Inclusion, and Interventions🔗

Personal electronic devices (PEDs) and digital technologies, such as smartphones, apps for communication/health management, and social platforms, offer significant opportunities for older adults to maintain social connections, access health resources, reduce isolation, and support healthy ageing. Yet, the digital divide (access, skills, usage gaps) persists as a key barrier, often exacerbating loneliness, depressive symptoms, cognitive/emotional challenges, and overall well-being disparities, particularly post-pandemic amid accelerated digital reliance. This research line explores patterns of PED/technology use (e.g., frequency, purposeful vs. excessive engagement, social media/apps for family/health), associations with mental health outcomes (e.g., depressive symptoms, loneliness, life satisfaction, cognitive functioning), and mechanisms (e.g., digital literacy, social support networks, family interaction, cultural attitudes toward tech). It prioritises developing, adapting, or evaluating interventions (e.g., targeted digital literacy training, user-friendly devices/programs, community-based inclusion strategies, virtual social activities) to promote healthy adoption, bridge generational gaps, mitigate negative effects (e.g., overdependence or anxiety), and enhance positive outcomes like reduced isolation and improved mental health. Qualitative explorations (e.g., lived experiences of exclusion/adoption via interviews/focus groups), quantitative assessments (e.g., surveys on prevalence/correlates, scale adaptation for older users, longitudinal tracking), or mixed-methods designs are encouraged, with strong potential for practical applications in community programs, policy for healthy aging, digital equity initiatives, and global strategies to support mental well-being in later life.

Supervisor(s): Sin U Leong Brochado (leong.sin.u@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Health Sciences

Keywords: Personal Electronic Devices, PED Use, Digital Inclusion, Mental Health, Depression, Loneliness, Well-Being

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DOCPSY-2026-04: Personal Electronic Devices and Social Media Use Among Adolescents and Young Adults: Mental Health Impacts and Interventions🔗

Personal electronic devices (PEDs), such as smartphones and tablets, enable widespread social media and digital engagement among adolescents and young adults, influencing identity formation, self-concept, peer connections, and social comparison while contributing to risks of problematic use, emotional distress, and mental health challenges, including elevated anxiety, depression, stress, sleep disruption, and reduced well-being, effects amplified in the post-pandemic era amid increased screen reliance and evolving perceptions of digital harms. This research line investigates patterns of PED/social media use (e.g., duration, active vs. passive engagement, gender differences), associations with key outcomes (e.g., self-esteem, depressive/anxiety symptoms, sleep quality, behavioural risks), and underlying mechanisms (e.g., fear of missing out, social comparison, parental mediation styles, cyberbullying exposure). It prioritises the development, adaptation, or evaluation of evidence-based, culturally sensitive interventions (e.g., school-based digital literacy and media education programs, mindfulness-based approaches, parental guidance strategies, or policy-informed limits) to foster healthy habits, mitigate problematic engagement, and support positive mental health outcomes. Qualitative explorations (e.g., lived experiences via focus groups/interviews), quantitative assessments (e.g., surveys on prevalence/correlates, scale validation, longitudinal tracking), or mixed-methods designs are encouraged, with strong potential for practical applications in schools, universities, families, and community services worldwide, informing guidelines, prevention efforts, and global youth digital health strategies.

Supervisor(s): Sin U Leong Brochado (leong.sin.u@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Health Sciences

Keywords: Personal Electronic Devices, PED Use, Smartphone Use, Social Media, Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Disruption

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DOCPSY-2026-03: Counselling Challenges, Mental Health Support, and Educational Transitions in School and University Settings🔗

School counsellors and university counselling services play a critical role in supporting student mental health, academic success, and well-being. Yet, they face escalating challenges, including heavy caseloads, resource limitations, administrative burdens, rising mental health demands, and the need for post-pandemic adaptations in diverse educational systems worldwide. This research line examines key difficulties for counsellors (e.g., cultural/language barriers, workload pressures, under-preparation for complex needs), levels of mental health literacy among students and staff, and effective support during major transitions,, particularly from high school to university, where underachievers, students with low English/language proficiency, or those from marginalized backgrounds often encounter heightened stress, identity shifts, and adjustment risks. Studies aim to identify promising strategies (e.g., interdisciplinary collaboration, training enhancements, early screening), training needs, and policy recommendations to strengthen accessible, equitable counselling services and promote preventive mental health approaches. Qualitative explorations (e.g., counsellor interviews, focus groups on lived challenges), quantitative assessments (e.g., surveys on literacy levels, caseload impacts), or mixed methods designs (e.g., combining surveys with in-depth case studies) are encouraged, offering broad implications for school/university policy, counsellor preparation, student equity, and global educational mental health frameworks.

Supervisor(s): Sin U Leong Brochado (leong.sin.u@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Health Sciences

Keywords: School Counsellors, University Counselling, Mental Health Literacy, Educational Transitions, Underachievers, Language Proficiency Barriers, Caseload Challenges

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DOCPSY-2026-02: Burnout and Psychological Well-Being in Helping Professions 🔗

Burnout continues to pose a significant challenge for professionals in high-demand helping roles, such as civil servants, social workers, healthcare providers, educators, and other frontline or service-oriented workers, exacerbated by post-pandemic demands, resource constraints, blurred work-life boundaries, and emerging phenomena like "quiet burnout" or loneliness-related strain. This research line examines the interplay between burnout and psychological capital (PsyCap: resilience, hope, optimism, self-efficacy), positive psychology interventions, self-care practices, and work ethics to foster mental health, occupational sustainability, ethical decision-making, and reduced turnover. Studies may investigate antecedents (e.g., organisational support, job demands, emotional labour) and outcomes (e.g., well-being, engagement, productivity) in diverse global contexts. Emphasis is placed on developing, adapting, or evaluating targeted interventions (e.g., PsyCap-building programs, mindfulness/self-care workshops, organisational redesigns) to mitigate burnout and promote flourishing. Qualitative explorations (e.g., in-depth interviews on lived experiences), quantitative assessments (e.g., longitudinal surveys, validated scales like PsyCap Questionnaire or Maslach Burnout Inventory), or mixed-methods designs are encouraged, offering broad implications for workplace policy, employee support systems, and public sector/helping profession strategies worldwide.

Supervisor(s): Sin U Leong Brochado (leong.sin.u@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Health Sciences

Keywords: Burnout, Psychological Capital, Positive Psychology, Self-Care, Work Ethics, Helping Professions, Occupational Well-Being

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DOCPSY-2026-01: Mental Health Literacy, Stigma Reduction, and Promotion of Self-Care and Counselling Seeking 🔗

Mental health literacy, the knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes that enable recognition, management, and prevention of mental disorders, plays a pivotal role in reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking, yet remains underdeveloped in many societies, particularly where cultural norms, privacy concerns, and traditional values create barriers to professional counselling despite growing mental health needs post-pandemic. This research line investigates levels of mental health literacy, explores barriers such as public and self-stigma, misconceptions about mental illness, and unfamiliarity with services, and examines strategies to normalise proactive help-seeking (e.g., positioning counselling as routine and acceptable as seeking over-the-counter treatment for common physical ailments like colds or flu). Studies may assess literacy via validated scales, surveys, or community assessments; identify cultural, social, and contextual influences; and develop/evaluate evidence-based interventions (e.g., public awareness campaigns, educational programs in schools/universities/workplaces, self-care workshops, or digital tools) to enhance self-care practices, diminish stigma, and foster positive attitudes toward counselling. Qualitative explorations (e.g., lived experiences of stigma), quantitative evaluations (e.g., pre/post-intervention metrics on literacy and attitudes), or mixed-methods designs are encouraged. The work offers broad implications for public health policy, community education, service accessibility, and cross-cultural adaptations in diverse global settings, with potential for comparative or multi-site extensions.

Supervisor(s): Sin U Leong Brochado (leong.sin.u@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Health Sciences

Keywords: Mental Health Literacy, Stigma Reduction, Self-Care, Counselling Seeking, Cultural Barriers, Help-Seeking Normalisation, Public Health

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DOCPSY-2024-07: Acceptance, Usage and Learning of Generative AI on Well-Being🔗

This research topic addressed the study of adopting the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in generative AI, to extend the concept and literature by understanding how acceptance, usage and learning of AI can have an effect on various of well-being (e.g., burnout, work engagement, resilience) among human service workers and their leaders (especially for the field of health professionals), or mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety among citizens.

Supervisor(s): Angus Kuok (angus.kuok@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Health Sciences

Keywords: Generative AI, Well-being

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DOCPSY-2024-06: Technology Use and Mental Health and Well-Being Across the Lifespan🔗

This research topic embraces the study of the multifaceted impact of technology use on mental health and well-being across different age groups. Key areas of focus include exploring the need to develop and validate a new scale to measure problematic device use, designing and evaluating interventions for individuals with such issues, and extending the bioecological model through Cloudsystem research, which is based on Prof. Cynthia Leong Brochado's doctoral thesis and is currently being developed for publication.

For adolescents, the program investigates factors influencing self-esteem, the relationship between social media usage and emotional problems, and interventions to address problematic social media use.

For the elderly, the research aims to examine the patterns of personal electronic device use and its effects on cognitive, emotional, and social well-being.

Other age groups are also of interest. This holistic approach aims to provide a deeper understanding of how technology influences mental health and well-being and develop effective intervention and support strategies.

Supervisor(s): Sin U Leong Brochado (leong.sin.u@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Health Sciences

Keywords: Technology Use, Mental Health, Adolescents, Elderly, Interventions, Bioecological Model, Social Media, Self-Esteem, Problematic Smartphone Use

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DOCPSY-2024-05: Social Group Models in Parenting🔗

Parenting is a rewarding but challenging journey. All thoughtful parents strive to become experts in their child’s development. Giving birth to a child does not necessarily pair parents with mature parenting skills. Parents must recall their holistic development to enhance their parental growth. Innovative technology-operation parenting provides an 8-week long parenting training to parents of children with behaviour problems, curriculum-based, experiential, parenting-group model, focused on in-depth learning and skill building, to help parents cope with children’s behavioural issues. The eight progressive group phrases are as follows: (1) Collective gathering; (2) Family of origin; (3) Life disruption; (4) Behaviour modification; (5) Total understanding; (6) Super parent; (7) Mindful action; (8) Holistic parenting. For this review, supporting parent group is defined as community-based initiatives designed to promote the flow of resources and supports to parents that strengthen functioning and enhance the growth and development of children with behavioural problems. The social group model for Chinese and Spanish-speaking parents in collaboration with social service agencies has been implemented in NYC. Since COVID, it has been done online. This study aims to replicate the social group model in Macao. An experimental design will be conducted in this study.

Supervisor(s): Helen Liu (helen.liu@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Health Sciences

Keywords: N/A

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DOCPSY-2024-01: Cross-Cultural Psychology Studies🔗

Culture represents the software of the mind, which distinguishes members of one human group from another (Hofstede, 1991). It is made up of specific values and practices rotted in the relationships each group has established with its physical and social environment throughout History. As the world today becomes increasingly interconnected, understanding the differences between cultures (i.e., cross-culture) and how people from different cultural backgrounds interact and adapt to multicultural environments (i.e., inter-culture) is essential to promote greater social well-being and effectiveness. This line of research of the Department of Psychology explores the intersection of cultural differences, with individual and group attitudes and behaviours, both across different cultures and within social, educational, and organisational multicultural contexts, taking advantage of the privileged role of Macao as a bridge between East and West.

Supervisor(s): Maria Rita Silva (maria.silva@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Health Sciences

Keywords: N/A

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DOCPSY-2024-04: Public Mental Health🔗

This proposal would investigate from a public health perspective on mental health and related issues, its impacts on the health care delivery system; the effectiveness of our current practice and intervention programs; the appropriateness and competence of relevant professionals involved in alleviating the issues; long terms health and wellbeing status focused in the community setting. Predictive models will be employed to analyse its direct impacts from a short-term and long-term duration, both its mediating and moderating variables necessary to understand its interlinkage and complexities relationship, which could inform a different approach to our public health policy in Macau.

Supervisor(s): Jacky Ho (jackyh@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Health Sciences

Keywords: N/A

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DOCPSY-2024-02: Organizational Psychology and Occupational Health🔗

Any thoughts, emotions and Behaviors that happened at work is related to organiational psychology, namely (but not limited to) Work enagement, organizational committment, burnout, mental well-being and health about the employees and the organizations. As well as to investigate the organizational (e.g., leadership or organizational support) and personal (e.g., resilience and emotional intelligence) antcedents and outcomes. Also, it can be applied to gereral working popuation or to particular workers in different industries.

Supervisor(s): Angus Kuok (angus.kuok@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Health Sciences

Keywords: Work engagement, Burnout, Well-being, Workplace

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DOCPSY-2024-03: Digital Use Divide, Parenting, and Cyberbullying🔗

This proposal reviews existing knowledge on how digital technology uses and activities of their children, their parenting style, and the opportunities and challenges that digital technology brings to parenting, parental support, and family life in Macau. Based on this research, the research questions of digital health in families’ lives: (1) How does parents’ familiarity with the internet using digital technology affect children’s well-being to understand when and why digital technology has a positive or negative influence on children? (2) How does digital technology integrate into family life in meaningful ways and promote parental mediation and parenting style? The methodology used is a cross-sectional survey design, including parents' studies in this current proposed study.

Supervisor(s): Helen Liu (helen.liu@usj.edu.mo)

Academic Unit: Faculty of Health Sciences

Keywords: N/A

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Last Updated: January 24, 2024 at 1:52 pm

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