Professor Cindy Sit is a Fellow of the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA) 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. Currently, Cindy is the President of the Asian
Society for Adapted Physical Education and Exercise (ASAPE) and President-Elect of IFAPA. She has published more
than 120 scientific papers in the areas of adapted physical activity, exercise science and public health.
Research Interests
Physical activity and sedentary behaviour of children with disabilities or special educational needs (SEN)
Adapted physical activity and school-based interventions
Selected Publications
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. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01135-6
Yu JJ, Capio CM, Abernethy B, Sit CHP*. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behavior
in children with and without developmental coordination disorder: Associations with fundamental movement
skills. Research in Developmental Disabilities 2021;118:104070. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104070
Liang X, Li R, Wong SHS, Sum RKW, Sit CHP*. The impact of exercise interventions concerning executive
functions of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/ hyperactive disorder: A systematic review and
meta-analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2021;18:68. doi:
10.1186/s12966-021-01135-6
Yang W, Wong SHS, Sum RKW, Sit CHP*. The association between physical activity and mental health in
children with special educational needs: A systematic review. Preventive Medicine Reports
2021;23:101419. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101419
Yu JJ, Tsai CL, Li R, Pan CY, Sit CHP*. The relationship between physical activity and inhibition in
children with and without motor impairments. Journal of Physical Activity and Health
2020;17:1118-1124. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2020-0091
Sit CHP, Yu JY, Huang WYJ, Wong MCS, Sum RKW, Tremblay MS, Wong SHS*. Results from Hong Kong’s 2019
Report Card on physical activity for children and youth with special educational needs. Journal of
Exercise Science and Fitness 2020;18:177-182. doi: 10.1016/j.jesf.2020.05.004
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
Sit CHP*, Li R, McKenzie TL, Cerin E, Wong SHS, Sum RKW, Leung FL. Physical activity of children with
physical disabilities: Associations with environmental and behavioral variables at home and school.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019;16:1394. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16081394
Yu JJ, Burnett A, Sit CHP*. Motor skill interventions in children with developmental coordination
disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2018;99:2076-2099. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2017.12.009
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)
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
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)
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),
2019-2021
Jockey Club “Sports without Limits” Youth Empowerment Programme. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust,
2018-2021
Courses Taught
Psychology for physical activity and exercise
Motor learning
Selected Honours and Awards
Research Excellence Award, CUHK, 2019
Exemplary Teaching Award, Faculty of Education, CUHK, 2012, 2015
Fellow, Hong Kong Association of Sports Medicine and Sports Science, 2018
Fellow, International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity, 2013
Selected Professional Services
Associate Editor, Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, Archives of Public Health, Frontier in
Education
Editorial Board Member, Asian Journal of Exercise and Sports Science, International Journal of Behavioral
Nutrition and Physical Activity, Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness
Member, Curriculum Development Council, Education Bureau, HKSAR Government
Member, Assessment Panel on Physical Education Key Learning Area for the Chief Executive’s Award for
Teaching Excellence (2021/2022), Education Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government
Member, Community Sports Committee, Home Affairs Bureau, HKSAR Government
Member, Grant Review Board, Health and Medical Research Fund, Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR Government
Member, Enterprise Support Scheme (ESS) Assessment Panel, Innovation Technology Fund, Innovation and
Technology Commission, HKSAR Government
Member, Hong Kong Diploma Secondary Education (HKDSE) Physical Education Subject Committee, Hong Kong
Examinations and Assessment Authority
Subject Specialist, Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications
Member, Incorporated Management Committee (IMC), CUHKFAA Chan Chun Ha Secondary School
