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
2025
Conference Publication
School-based parenting programs: child, family, and the home-school partnership outcomes [Roundtable Discussion]
Hodges, Julie and Ma, Tianyi (2025). School-based parenting programs: child, family, and the home-school partnership outcomes [Roundtable Discussion]. International Congress on Evidence-based Parenting Support 2025 (I-CEPS), Online, 4-7 June 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
The parent-child self-regulation dynamics [Roundtable Discussion]
Asmara, Olifa J. and Ma, Tianyi (2025). The parent-child self-regulation dynamics [Roundtable Discussion] . International Congress on Evidence-based Parenting Support 2025 (I-CEPS), Online, 4-7 June 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
The parent-child self-regulation dynamic: insights, impacts, and interventions [Symposium]
Asmaram, Olifa J., Ma, Tianyi and Chainey, Carys (2025). The parent-child self-regulation dynamic: insights, impacts, and interventions [Symposium]. International Congress on Evidence-based Parenting Support 2025 (I-CEPS), Online, 4-7 June 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 [Symposium]
Boyle, Christopher, Sanders, Matthew R., Ma, Tianyi and Hodges, Julie (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 [Symposium]. International Congress on Evidence-based Parenting Support 2025 (I-CEPS), Online, 4-7 June 2025.
2024
Conference Publication
Preparing parents to be partners in children’s education: examining the spillover effects of school-based implementation of evidence-based parenting program [Paper Presentation]
Ma, Tianyi, Tellegen, Cassandra L., Hodges, Julie, Boyle, Christopher and Sanders, Matthew R. (2024). Preparing parents to be partners in children’s education: examining the spillover effects of school-based implementation of evidence-based parenting program [Paper Presentation]. Australian Association for Research in Education 2024 Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 1-5 December 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Evaluating the effectiveness of a Triple P seminar series in Australian primary schools: findings from a cluster randomised trial [Paper presentation]
Boyle, Christopher, Sanders, Matthew R., Ma, Tianyi and Hodges, Julie (2024). Evaluating the effectiveness of a Triple P seminar series in Australian primary schools: findings from a cluster randomised trial [Paper presentation]. Australian Association for Research in Education 2024 Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 1-5 December 2024.
2024
Journal Article
Facilitators, barriers, and enablers of social workers’ utilization of an evidence-based parenting program: An exploratory mixed-method study
Ma, Tianyi, Tellegen, Cassandra L. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2024). Facilitators, barriers, and enablers of social workers’ utilization of an evidence-based parenting program: An exploratory mixed-method study. Children and Youth Services Review, 166 107922, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107922
2024
Journal Article
Extended Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale (CAPES): inclusion of the peer relationship problems subscale and updated psychometric properties
Ma, Tianyi, Sanders, Matthew R., Hodges, Julie, Boyle, Christopher, Healy, Karyn L. and Morawska, Alina (2024). Extended Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale (CAPES): inclusion of the peer relationship problems subscale and updated psychometric properties. Australian Psychologist, 59 (6), 533-540. doi: 10.1080/00050067.2024.2411354
2024
Conference Publication
A public health approach to evidence-based parenting support [Symposium]
Sanders, Matthew R., Hodges, Julie, Ma, Tianyi and Morawska, Alina (2024). A public health approach to evidence-based parenting support [Symposium]. The 44th Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT) Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 17-18 October 2024.
2024
Book Chapter
Enhancing outcomes for vulnerable parents, children, and communities using the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program System: Innovations and future directions
Sanders, Matthew R., Ma, Tianyi, Hoang, Nam-Phuong T. and Turner, Karen M. T. (2024). Enhancing outcomes for vulnerable parents, children, and communities using the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program System: Innovations and future directions. Routledge handbook of child and family social work research: knowledge-building, application, and impact. (pp. 217-230) edited by Elizabeth Fernandez, Penelope Welbourne, Bethany Lee and Joyce L. C. Ma. London, United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781003241492-16
2024
Other Outputs
National Parenting Pulse Survey: Understanding the current parenting experiences, challenges, and needs for support in Australia
Sanders, Matthew R., Ma, Tianyi and Meester-Buma, Eva (2024). National Parenting Pulse Survey: Understanding the current parenting experiences, challenges, and needs for support in Australia. LCC Working Paper Series. 2024-32. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland Australia. doi: 10.14264/f8f903f
2024
Other Outputs
The Thriving Kids and Parents Schools Project: Can a low-intensity seminar series for parents promote the wellbeing of children and families?
Boyle, Christopher, Sanders, Matthew R., Hodges, Julie and Ma, Tianyi (2024). The Thriving Kids and Parents Schools Project: Can a low-intensity seminar series for parents promote the wellbeing of children and families?. Adelaide, SA, Australia: The University of Adelaide.
2024
Journal Article
Place-based approach to support children’s development towards sustainable development goals: A scoping review of current effort and future agenda
Hoang, Nam-Phuong T., Ma, Tianyi, Silverwood, Amy J. and Sanders, Matthew R. (2024). Place-based approach to support children’s development towards sustainable development goals: A scoping review of current effort and future agenda. Children and Youth Services Review, 164 107873, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107873
2024
Conference Publication
Advances in population-based implementation and evaluation of the Triple P System of parenting support [Symposium]
Sanders, Matthew R., Metzler, Carol W., Ma, Tianyi and Prinz, Ron (2024). Advances in population-based implementation and evaluation of the Triple P System of parenting support [Symposium]. Society for Prevention Research 32nd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC United States, 28-31 May 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Findings from a large-scale evaluation of a low-intensity, parenting seminars series in Australian schools [Paper presentation]
Boyle, Christopher, Sanders, Matthew R., Ma, Tianyi and Hodges, Julie (2024). Findings from a large-scale evaluation of a low-intensity, parenting seminars series in Australian schools [Paper presentation]. European Conference on Educational Research (ECER) 2024, Nicosia, Cyprus, 27-30 August 2024.
2024
Journal Article
Supporting families affected by adversity: an open feasibility trial of Family Life Skills Triple P
Sanders, Matthew R., M. T. Turner, Karen, Baker, Sabine, Ma, Tianyi, Chainey, Carys, Horstead, Siân K., Wimalaweera, Subodha, Gardner, Susan and Eastwood, John (2024). Supporting families affected by adversity: an open feasibility trial of Family Life Skills Triple P. Behavior Therapy, 55 (3), 621-635. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2023.09.004
2024
Journal Article
Facilitators and barriers of implementation of evidence-based parenting support in educational settings
Moller, Nicholas, Tellegen, Cassandra L., Ma, Tianyi and Sanders, Matthew R. (2024). Facilitators and barriers of implementation of evidence-based parenting support in educational settings. School Mental Health, 16 (1), 189-206. doi: 10.1007/s12310-023-09629-3
2023
Journal Article
The thriving kids and parents schools project: protocol of an incomplete stepped wedged cluster randomised trial evaluating the effectiveness of a Triple P seminar series
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 and Trompf, Madilyn (2023). The thriving kids and parents schools project: protocol of an incomplete stepped wedged cluster randomised trial evaluating the effectiveness of a Triple P seminar series. BMC Public Health, 23 (1) 2021. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16962-4
2023
Journal Article
Predicting the sustained implementation of an evidence-based parenting program: a structural equation modelling approach
Ma, Tianyi, Tellegen, Cassandra L., McWilliam, Jenna and Sanders, Matthew R. (2023). Predicting the sustained implementation of an evidence-based parenting program: a structural equation modelling approach. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 50 (1), 114-127. doi: 10.1007/s10488-022-01226-x
2023
Conference Publication
Enhancing the policy and social impact of evidence-based parenting support [Symposium]
Ma, Tianyi, Chainey, Carys, Sanders, Matthew R. and Dadds, Mark (2023). Enhancing the policy and social impact of evidence-based parenting support [Symposium]. Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT) 43rd National Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 19-20 October 2023.
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
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: