Overview
Background
Dr Tianyi Ma is a Research Fellow (Academic Level B) in the field of Parenting and Family Psychology. His developing program of research examines how family and school contexts interact to shape children’s learning and wellbeing, with a particular focus on parental self-efficacy and self-regulation. His work brings together advanced quantitative modelling, evidence synthesis, and intervention research to better understand for whom, under what circumstances, and through which mechanisms parenting supports are effective. He has published 23 refereed journal articles (including 10 as first author) and secured over AU$340,000 in competitive funding as a lead or contributing investigator. He leads projects within a coordinated program of research, working with a team of 22 honours students and research assistants under his supervision. He also contributes to large-scale collaborative research programs. Tianyi serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools and Journal of Child and Family Studies, and sits on multiple editorial boards. His work aims to advance theory development and improve the scalability of evidence-based parenting support.
Availability
- Dr Tianyi Ma is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Psychological Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Psychology, The University of Queensland
Research impacts
My research has been cited by researchers from over 160 institutions across 56 countries (Scopus 04/26). According to Google Scholar (04/26), I have been cited over 450 times with an h-index of 10. According to SciVal (04/26), my overall FWCI is 4.1, representing that my research is cited over 300% more than the average in my area. About 90% of my work has been published in Q1 journals, with 50% published in the top 10% SJR journals. The scoping review I published in Social Science and Medicine in 2022 has received over 220 citations (GS 04/26), and a FWCI of 7.7 (SciVal 04/26). My work has been cited in policy documents by the Australian, U.S., German, Irish, and New Zealand governments, as well as the OECD.
Works
Search Professor Tianyi Ma’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2025
Journal Article
Can a low‐intensity evidence‐based parenting seminar series promote the mental health and wellbeing of children and families? A cluster randomised trial
Boyle, Christopher, Sanders, Matthew R., Ma, Tianyi, Hodges, Julie, Allen, Kelly‐Ann, Cobham, Vanessa E., Darmawan, Igusti, Dittman, Cassandra K., Healy, Karyn L., Hepburn, Stevie‐Jae, MacLeod, Lynda M., Teng, Jiachen, Trompf, Madilyn and Warton, William (2025). Can a low‐intensity evidence‐based parenting seminar series promote the mental health and wellbeing of children and families? A cluster randomised trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry jcpp.70066, 1-12. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.70066
2024
Journal Article
The associations between parenting self-efficacy and parents’ contributions to the home-school partnership among parents of primary school students: a multilevel meta-analysis
Ma, Tianyi, Tellegen, Cassandra L., Hodges, Julie and Sanders, Matthew R. (2024). The associations between parenting self-efficacy and parents’ contributions to the home-school partnership among parents of primary school students: a multilevel meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review, 36 (3) 93. doi: 10.1007/s10648-024-09937-3
2024
Journal Article
The role of parenting self-efficacy on teacher-child relationships and parent-teacher communication: evidence from an Australian national longitudinal study
Ma, Tianyi, Tellegen, Cassandra L. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2024). The role of parenting self-efficacy on teacher-child relationships and parent-teacher communication: evidence from an Australian national longitudinal study. Journal of School Psychology, 103 101296, 101296. doi: 10.1016/j.jsp.2024.101296
2026
Journal Article
Part II: can school-based delivery of an evidence-based parenting program promote the home-school partnership? Parental self-regulation as the mechanism of change
Ma, Tianyi, Tellegen, Cassandra L., Hodges, Julie, Boyle, Christopher and Sanders, Matthew R. (2026). Part II: can school-based delivery of an evidence-based parenting program promote the home-school partnership? Parental self-regulation as the mechanism of change. Family Process, 65 (2) e70150. doi: 10.1111/famp.70150
2026
Journal Article
Exploring school staff perspectives on brief, school-based parenting seminars with a reciprocal school staff component: implications for home-school partnerships
Hidajat, Tarissa J., Hodges, Julie, Ma, Tianyi, Allen, Kelly-Ann, Morawska, Alina, Boyle, Christopher and Sanders, Matthew R. (2026). Exploring school staff perspectives on brief, school-based parenting seminars with a reciprocal school staff component: implications for home-school partnerships. School Mental Health. doi: 10.1007/s12310-026-09875-1
2026
Journal Article
Understanding the interplay among parental involvement, parental self-regulation, and child adjustment: a latent profiles analysis and cross-validation
Ma, Tianyi, Tellegen, Cassandra L., Hodges, Julie, Boyle, Christopher and Sanders, Matthew R. (2026). Understanding the interplay among parental involvement, parental self-regulation, and child adjustment: a latent profiles analysis and cross-validation. Journal of School Psychology, 115 101526, 101526-115. doi: 10.1016/j.jsp.2025.101526
2026
Journal Article
Part I: can school-based delivery of an evidence-based parenting program promote the home-school partnership? A stepped wedge cluster randomized trial
Ma, Tianyi, Tellegen, Cassandra L, Hodges, Julie, Boyle, Christopher and Sanders, Matthew R (2026). Part I: can school-based delivery of an evidence-based parenting program promote the home-school partnership? A stepped wedge cluster randomized trial. Family Process, 65 (1) e70109, 1-13. doi: 10.1111/famp.70109
2026
Journal Article
Healthy screen use in schools: how families and schools can work together
Morawska, Alina, Hidajat, Tarissa Judith, Hodges, Julie and Ma, Tianyi (2026). Healthy screen use in schools: how families and schools can work together. Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools, 36 (1) 20556365261420347, 1-7. doi: 10.1177/20556365261420347
2026
Journal Article
A systematic review of parents’ experiences during their child’s transition to school
Morawska, Alina, Mitchell, Amy E., Etel, Evren, Armstrong, Rebecca, McAuliffe, Tomomi, Ma, Tianyi, McBryde, Cathy and Johnston, Leanne M. (2026). A systematic review of parents’ experiences during their child’s transition to school. Early Childhood Education Journal, 54 (1), 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s10643-024-01780-z
2025
Other Outputs
Parents as partners in children's education: evaluating the role of parental-self-regulation in effective home-school partnership
Ma, Tianyi (2025). Parents as partners in children's education: evaluating the role of parental-self-regulation in effective home-school partnership. PhD Thesis, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/4aded24
2025
Conference Publication
Tailored futures: a systems-contextual approach to supporting every child
Ma, Tianyi (2025). Tailored futures: a systems-contextual approach to supporting every child. 45th Society for Mental Health Research (SMHR) Conference: pathways for diversity, equity and personalisation in mental health care, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 19 - 21 November 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
How a school-based, low-intensity, evidence-based parenting program can enhance the well-being of children and families and the home-school partnership: findings from a cluster randomised trial in Australian primary schools [Paper Presentation]
Boyle, C., Sanders, M. R., Ma, T., Hodges, J., Allen, K. A., Cobham, V. E., Darmawan, I., Dittman, C. K., Healy, K. L., Hepburn, S. J., MacLeod, L. M., Teng, J., Trompf, M. and Warton, W. (2025). How a school-based, low-intensity, evidence-based parenting program can enhance the well-being of children and families and the home-school partnership: findings from a cluster randomised trial in Australian primary schools [Paper Presentation]. The 45th Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT) Conference, Perth, WA, Australia, 16-17 October 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Innovation in evidence-based parenting and family interventions: responding to the contemporary needs of children young people and their families [Symposium]
Mazzucchelli, T. G., Morawska, A., Ma, T., Studman, L. and Sanders, M. R. (2025). Innovation in evidence-based parenting and family interventions: responding to the contemporary needs of children young people and their families [Symposium]. The 45th Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT) Conference, Perth, WA Australia, 16-17 October 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Partners in Education Survey: validation of a brief, parent-report home-school partnership measure in Australia
Johnson, Alicia, Ma, Tianyi, Hodges, Julie, Boyle, Christopher and Sanders, Matthew R. (2025). Partners in Education Survey: validation of a brief, parent-report home-school partnership measure in Australia. Children and Youth Services Review, 177 108455, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108455
2025
Journal Article
Creating a positive home-school partnership through professional learning for teachers – a scoping review of the international literature
Hepburn, Stevie-Jae, Trompf, Madi, Hodges, Julie, MacLeod, Lynda Maree, Ma, Tianyi, Teng, Jiachen, Johnson, Alicia, Boyle, Christopher and Sanders, Matthew (2025). Creating a positive home-school partnership through professional learning for teachers – a scoping review of the international literature. Teaching and Teacher Education, 165 105127, 105127-165. doi: 10.1016/j.tate.2025.105127
2025
Conference Publication
Impact of low-intensity parenting seminars: Findings from Australian schools [Oral Presentation]
Boyle, Christopher, Sanders, Matthew, Ma, Tianyi and Hodges, Julie (2025). Impact of low-intensity parenting seminars: Findings from Australian schools [Oral Presentation]. The European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI) Conference, Graz, Austria, 25-29 August.
2025
Conference Publication
A latent profile analysis of parent profiles and child mental health [Paper presentation]
Choi, Yina, Ma, Tianyi, Hodges, Julie, Boyle, Christopher and Sanders, Matthew R. (2025). A latent profile analysis of parent profiles and child mental health [Paper presentation]. Brisbane Mental Health Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 21 August 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
A scoping review of parent engagement in online parenting programs [Paper presentation]
Kaur, Navreet, Ma, Tianyi, Choi, Yina and Morawska, Alina (2025). A scoping review of parent engagement in online parenting programs [Paper presentation]. Brisbane Mental Health Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 21 August 2025.
2025
Other Outputs
Parenting under pressure: a scoping review of parental self-efficacy in the context of cumulative adversity
Chainey, Carys, Little, Sarah, Choi, Yina, Hoang, April, Ma, Tianyi, Stratton, Elizabeth, Teal, Renee, Marchand, Steeve, Ozols AM, Ingrid and Milton, Alyssa (2025). Parenting under pressure: a scoping review of parental self-efficacy in the context of cumulative adversity. LCC Working Paper Series. 2025-18. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland Australia. doi: 10.14264/476de3b
2025
Conference Publication
Understanding the drivers of success in secondary-to-tertiary transitions
Long, Rowena, Moser, Felicity, Macdonald, Doune, Lodge, Jason M., Greco, Sarah, Woolcock, Liz, Ma, Tianyi, Anderson, Kimberley and Shepherd, Kate (2025). Understanding the drivers of success in secondary-to-tertiary transitions. Students Transitions Achievement Retention & Success Conference (STARS), Cairns, QLD Australia, 1 - 2 July 2025.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Tianyi Ma is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Tianyi Ma directly for media enquiries about:
- Family Psychology
- Home-School Partnership
- Parental Engagement
- Parental Involvement
- Parenting
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