Degrees: PhD (Case Western Reserve), MSW (Calgary), DipBusMgt (CUHK), MSocSc (HKU), BSocSc (CUHK)
Interests: Multicultural/multiracial research, health/mental health, gerontology, social policy and work practice, social work research.
Dr. Daniel Lai's teaching and research interests include health and aging, culture and health, racism, mental health, immigrants and immigration. He has received research funding support and research career support from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, serving as Alberta Heritage Health Scholar from 2003 to 2009. As a prolific scholar, he also receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and many other research institutes and funding sources.
Lai teaches courses related to diversity and social justice issues, aging and health, policy and practice at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
He served on the Institute Advisory Board, Institute of Aging, Canadian Institutes of Health Research from 2004 to 2008. He was also the Social Policy and Practice Editor of the Canadian Journal on Aging from 2004 to 2007.
Currently, Lai serves as board member of the Canadian Association of Gerontology, United Way of Calgary and Area, and the Alzheimer Society of Calgary. He is Research Fellow of the Centre on Aging of the University of Hong Kong, Honorary Professor at the Department of Social Work and Social Administration of the University of Hong Kong, Invited Professor of the Nanjing Normal University in China, Invited Research of the Jiangsu Gerontology Association in China, Editorial Consultant of the Soochow Journal of Social Work in Taiwan, and Consulting Editor of the Asian Journal of Gambling Issues and Public Health.
Due to his professional contributions, he won the Immigrants of Distinction Award (Distinguish Professional) in 2005. His expertise in gerontology and aging research also landed him the appointment as one of the commissioners of the Demographic Planning Commission (2008) of the Government of Alberta.
Selected Recent Publications:
Lai, D.W.L., & Thomson, C. (2011). The impact of perceived adequacy of social support on caregiving burden of family caregivers. Families in Societies, 90(1), 1-8Tong, H. M. & Lai, D. W. L. (2010). Jia Na Da Ying Xiang Lao Nian Jian Kang De She Hui Yin Su [Social determinants of health]. China Social Work, 12, 54-55.Lai, D.W.L., & Surood, S. (2010). Types and factor structure of barriers to utilization of health services among aging South Asians in Calgary, Canada. Canadian Journal on Aging, 29(2), 249-258.Surood, S. & Lai, D.W.L. (2010). Impact of culture on use of western health services by older South Asian Canadians. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 101(2), 176-80.Lai, D.W.L., Tong, H.M., Zeng, Q., & Xu, W.Y. (2010). The factor structure of a Chinese Geriatric Depression Scale-SF: Use with alone elderly Chinese in Shanghai, China. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 25(5), 503-510.Lai, D.W.L. (2010). Filial piety, caregiving appraisal, and caregiving burden, Research on Aging, 32, 200-223.Lai, D.W.L., & Tong, H.M. (2009). Comparison of social determinants of depressive symptoms among elderly Chinese in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Taipei. Asian Journal of Gerontology & Geriatrics, 4, 58-65.Lai, D.W.L. (2009). Longitudinal effects of caregiving burden on health of Chinese family caregivers in Canada. Hallym International Journal of Aging, 11(2), 91-105.Lai, D.W.L. (2009). Depressive symptoms of elderly Chinese in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Taipei. Aging and Mental Health, 13(5), 725-735.Lai, D.W.L. (2009). From burden to depressive symptoms: The case of Chinese-Canadian family caregivers for the elderly. Social Work in Health Care, 48(4), 432-449.Lai, D.W.L. (2009). Older Chinese' attitude towards aging and the relationship to mental health: an international comparison. Social Work in Mental Health, 48(3), 243-259.Lai, D.W.L., & Surood, S. (2009). Filial piety in Chinese Canadian Family Caregivers. International Journal of Sociology of the Family, 35(1), 89-104.Lai, D.W.L., & Huffey, N. (2009). Experience of discrimination by visible minorities in small communities. Our Diverse Cities, 6, 124-129.Lai, D.W.L., & Surood, S. (2009). Chinese health beliefs of older Chinese in Canada. Journal of Aging and Health, 21(1), 38-62.
Research Projects:
Lai, D. (PI). Social capital, social exclusion, and healthy aging of older Chinese in Canada (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council - Standard Research Grant, 2008-2011).Lai, D. (PI). Multicultural perspectives of family caregiving for the aging population (Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Operating Grant; 2008-2011).Lai, D. (PI). Predictors and Effects of Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination in Canada. (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council; 2005-2006).Lai, D. (PI). Multicultural Health Issues in the Aging Population. (Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research - Establishment Grant; 2003-2006).Lai, D. (PI). Multicultural Health Issues in the Aging Population. (Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research - Salary Award/Support; 2003-2008).Lai, D. (PI). & Este, D. (Co-I). Experience of Visible Minority Social Work Professionals. (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council - Standard Research Grant; 2003-2006).Lai, D. (Co-I). Complementary and Alternative Medicine use in Chinese Canadians. (Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research-Health Research Fund; 2003-2006).Lai, D. (Co-I). Assessing depression literacy in the general population. (Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research; 2005-2007).Lai, D. (Co-I). Hidden Costs Invisible Contributions: Marginalization of Dependent Adults. (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council - MCRI; 2003-2007).
