Biography
Professor Cindy Sit is a Fellow of the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA), the Asian Society for Adapted Physical Education and Exercise (ASAPE), and the Hong Kong Association of Sports Medicine and Sports Science (HKASMSS). She directs the Exercise Psychology and Motor Learning Laboratory, which focuses on investigations of physical activity and participation motivation, and the development and assessment of the impact of physical activity interventions on motor skills and psychosocial outcomes of children with and without disabilities or special educational needs (SEN). Currently, Cindy is the President of IFAPA and the Committee Chair of the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA). She has published more than 140 scientific papers in the areas of adapted physical activity, exercise science and public health.
Research Interests
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Physical activity and sedentary behaviour of children with disabilities or special educational needs (SEN)
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Adapted physical activity and school-based interventions
Selected Publications
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Liu C, Liang X, Sit CHP*. Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics 2024. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.6251
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Dastamooz S, Sadeghi-Bahmani D, Farahani MHD, Wong SHS, Yam JCS, Tham CCY, Sit CHP*. The efficacy of physical exercise interventions on mental health, cognitive function, and ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents with ADHD: An umbrella review. eClinicalMedicine 2023;62:102137. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102137
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Yang W, Yu JJ, Wong SH, Sum RK, Carty C, Sit CHP*. Promoting mental health in children and adolescents with disabilities through school-based physical activity intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental Health and Physical Activity 2023;25:100554. doi: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2023.100554
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Liang X, Qiu H, Tsai CL, Li CX, Sit CHP*. MVPA and motor proficiency between children with ADHD and typical development: Associations with sleep quality. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2023;55:1886-93. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003223
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Liang X, Qiu H, Wang P, Sit CHP*. The impacts of a combined exercise on executive function in children with ADHD: A randomized controlled trial. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports 2022;32:1297-1312. doi: 10.1111/sms.14192
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Sit CHP, Aubert S, Carty C, Silva DAS, López-Gil JF, Asunta P, Palad Y, Guisihan R, Lee J, Arbour Nicitopoulos KP, Vanderloo LM, Stanish H, Haegele J, Urbański PK, Pozeriene J, Hutzler Y, Ng K. Promoting physical activity among children and adolescents with disabilities: The translation of policy to practice internationally. Journal of Physical Activity and Health 2022;19:758-768. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2022-0351
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Yang W, Liang X, Sit CHP*. Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities: A meta-analysis using the RE-AIM framework. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2022;19:80. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01312-1
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Liang X, Li R, Wong SHS, Sum RKW, Sit CHP*. The effects of exercise intervention on executive functions in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine 2021;18:68. doi: 10.1007/s40279-021-01545-3
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Sit CHP*, Yu JJ, Wong SHS, Capio CM, Masters R. A school-based physical activity intervention for children with developmental coordination disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Research in Developmental Disabilities 2019;89:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2019.03.004
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Sit CHP*, McKenzie TL, Cerin E, Chow BC, Huang WYJ, Yu JJ. Physical activity and sedentary time among children with different disabilities at school. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2017;49:292-297. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001097
Funded Research Grants as Principal Investigator (in the past five years)
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Battling sedentarism in children with special educational needs through inclusive physical activity. RGC Research Impact Fund (RIF), 2023-2026
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A randomized controlled trial of physical activity intervention on neurocognitive performance, mental health and behavioural outcomes of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. RGC General Research Fund (GRF), 2023-2025
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A cluster randomized controlled trial of school-based physical activity intervention on mental health and
risk behaviours in adolescents with special educational needs. RGC General Research Fund (GRF), 2021-2023
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Promoting physical activity and health in children and youth with intellectual disabilities: A
social-ecological approach. National Social Science Fund of China, 2019-2021 (Co-PI)
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A cluster randomized controlled trial of physical activity intervention on motor and cognitive functions and
psychosocial outcomes of children with developmental coordination disorder. RGC General Research Fund (GRF),
2019-2022
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Jockey Club “Sports without Limits” Youth Empowerment Programme. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust,
2018-2022
Courses Taught
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Psychology for physical activity and exercise
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Motor learning
Selected Honours and Awards
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Research Excellence Award, CUHK, 2019
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Exemplary Teaching Award, Faculty of Education, CUHK, 2012, 2015
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Fellow, Asian Society for Adapted Physical Education and Exercise, 2022
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Fellow, Hong Kong Association of Sports Medicine and Sports Science, 2018
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Fellow, International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity, 2013
Selected Professional Services
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Associate Editor, Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, Archives of Public Health, Frontier in Education
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Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Behavioral
Nutrition and Physical Activity, Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness
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Honorary Advisor, “Active Students, Active People” (ASAP) Campaign, Physical Education Section, Curriculum Development Institute, Education Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government
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Member, Curriculum Development Council, Education Bureau, HKSAR Government
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Member, School Allocation Committee, Education Bureau, HKSAR Government
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Member, Community Sports Committee, Home Affairs Bureau, HKSAR Government
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Deputy Convenor, Student Sport Co-ordinating Sub-Committee, Home Affairs Bureau, HKSAR Government
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Member, Enterprise Support Scheme (ESS) Assessment Panel, Innovation Technology Fund, Innovation and
Technology Commission, HKSAR Government
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Subject Specialist, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications
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Member, Incorporated Management Committee (IMC), CUHKFAA Chan Chun Ha Secondary School
