Biography

Dr. Li obtained a master’s degree in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, a PhD and a Master’s degree in Psychology, from the University of Victoria, Canada. Her undergraduate studies were in English language and literature.

Dr. Li’s research focuses on two areas: Cultural Psychology/Communication and Health Psychology/Communication.

It is her belief that humans are biological as well as cultural beings. Humans think and behave in ways dictated by what they are taught early in life at home, and later in society. The challenge to a cultural psychologist is to study people’s cognition and actions in their life’s context, and find evidence to advance our understanding of the role culture plays in their lives.

Dr. Li has published widely in the above-mentioned two areas. Her research has twice won top paper awards at the conventions of the International Communication Association, once in Seoul, Korea, and another time in Dresden, Germany.

In addition, Dr. Li has published a historical fiction entitled “The Water Lily Pond” by Wilfrid Laurier University Press, and it is translated into German.

Selected Publications

Olynick, J. & Li, H. Z., (2020). Organizational Culture and its Relationship with Employee Stress, Enjoyment of Work, and Productivity. International Journal of Psychological Studies, 12 (2), 1-30.

Olynick, J., Iliopulos, A. & Li, H. Z. (2017). Residents’ verbal compliance gaining strategies and patient satisfaction. Health Education, 117(6), 551-565.

Levesque, A. & Li, H. Z. (2016). Verbal compliance-gaining strategies used by male physicians and patient healthcare experience. Communication & Medicine, 13(2), 185–202.

Olynick, J.; Li, H. Z.; Verde, M. & Cui, Y. (2016). Child-rearing practices of the Carrier First Nations in Northern BC, Canada. The Canadian Journal of Native Studies, 36(1), 153-177.

Li, H. Z. (2016). Nonverbal communication. In W. Donsbach (Ed.) International Encyclopedia of Communication, Wiley.

Levesque, A. & Li, H. Z. (2014). The relationship between culture, health conceptions, and health practices: A qualitative-quantitative approach. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 45(4), 628-645.

Chen, X; Gong, J; Li, Z.H., &  Zhou, D (2014). Receptivity to pro-tobacco media and cigarette smoking among vocational high school students in China. International Journal of Psychological Studies, 6(1), 7-18.

Levesque, A., Li, H. Z., & Bohemier, M. (2013). Cultural variations in health conceptions: A qualitative approach. A Journal of Indigenous and Aboriginal Community Health, 11(2), 215-229.

Li, H. Z. (2012). Intercultural communication: Analyzing Chinese-Canadian conversations. Saarbrücken, Germany: Lambert Academic Publishing. [Authored Book, Available at amazon.com; ISBN-10: 978659131769; 274 pages].

Levesque, A., Li, H. Z.. & Pahal, J. (2012). Factors related to patients' adherence to medication and lifestyle change recommendations: Data from Canada. International Journal of Psychological Studies, 4(2), 42-55.

Li, H. Z. (2012). What makes a Chinese smoke and keep smoking? Health Education: An International Journal, 112(4), 312-318.

Li, H. Z., Zhang, Y., MacDonell, K., Li, X. P., & Chen, X. (2012). Counseling Chinese patients about cigarette smoking: The role of nurses. Health Education: An International Journal, 112(4), 350-364.

Pahal, J. & Li, H. Z. (2011). Discourse analysis of resident-patient consultations: Data from Canada. Saarbrücken, Germany: Lambert Academic Publishing. [Authored Book, Available at amazon.com; ISBN-10: 3843390703].

Desroches, N. & Li, H. Z. (2010). Physician communication style and patient satisfaction: Micro-analyses of physician-patient consultations. Saarbrücken, Germany: Lambert Academic Publishing. [Authored Book, Available at amazon.com; ISBN-10: 3838343395].

Li, H. Z., Cui, Y., Wang, Z., Leske, I. P. & Aguilera, L, (2010). Backchannel responses and enjoyment of the conversation: The more does not necessarily mean the better. International Journal of Psychological Studies, 2, 25-37. [SSHRC supported]

Aguilera, L. & Li, H. Z. (2009). Grounding as a facilitator in Anglo-Canadian and Mainland Chinese conversations. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 12,163-172. [SSHRC supported]

Li, H. Z., Zhang, Z., Yum, O. K., Lundgren, J., & Pahal, J., (2008). Interruption and patient satisfaction in resident-patient consultations. Health Education: An International Journal, 108(5), 411-427.

Li, H. Z., (2008). Improving provider-patient communication is not an option, but a necessity (Editorial). Health Education: An International Journal, 108(5), 353-354.

Li, H. Z., Sun, W.X., Cheng, F.M., Wang, X.R., Liu, W.P., Wang, A.S (2008). Cigarette smoking status and smoking cessation counselling of Chinese physicians in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Asian Pacific Journal of Public Health, 20(3), 183-192.

Li, H. Z., Desroches, N., Yum, Y., Koehn, C., & Deagle, G. (2007). Asymmetrical talk between physicians and patients: A quantitative discourse analysis. Canadian Journal of Communication, 32(3 & 4), 417-433.

Yum, Y., & Li, H. Z. (2007). Associations among attachment style, maintenance strategies, and relational quality across cultures. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 36(2), 70-85. Download

Li, H. Z., Sun, H. S., Liu, Z., Zhang, Y., & Cheng, Q. (2007). Cigarette smoking and anti-smoking counseling: Dilemmas of Chinese physicians. Health Education: An International Journal, 107(2), 192-207. Download

Pahal, J. & Li, H. Z. (2006). The dynamics of resident-patient consultations: Data from Canada. Communication and Medicine: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Healthcare, Ethics and Society, 3(2), 161-170.

Li, H. Z., Bhatt, G., Zhang, Z., Pahal, J., & Cui, Y. P. (2006). Defining relationships: Comparing Canadians, Chinese and Indians. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 9(3), 236-244.

Li, H. Z., Zhang, Z., Bhatt, G., & Yum, Y. (2006). Rethinking culture and self-construal: China as a middle land. Journal of Social Psychology, 146(5), 603-622.

Li, H. Z. (2006). Backchannel responses as misleading feedback in intercultural discourse. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 35(2), 99-116.

Li, H. Z., Yum, Y., Yates, R., Aguilera, L., Mao, Y. & Zheng, Y. (2005). Interruption and involvement in discourse: Can intercultural interlocutors be trained? Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 34(4), 233-254.

Li, H. Z. & Lundgren, J. (2005). Training patients to ask information verifying questions in medical interviews. Health Education: An International Journal, 105(6), 451-466.

Li, H. Z., Krysko, M, Desroches, N., & Deagle, G. (2004). Re-conceptualizing interruptions in physician-patient interview: Co-operative and intrusive. Communication and Medicine: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Healthcare, Ethics and Society, 1-2, 145-157.

Li, H. Z. (2004). Gaze and mutual gaze in inter-and intra-cultural conversation in simulated physician-patient conversations. International Journal of Language and Communication, 20, 3-26.

Li, H. Z. (2003). Inter- and intra-cultural variations in self-other boundary: A qualitative-quantitative approach. International Journal of Psychology, 38(3), 138-149.

Peavey, V. & Li, H. Z. (2003). Social and cultural context of intercultural counselling. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 37(3), 186-196.

Verde, M. & Li, H. Z. (2003). Are Native men and women accessing the health care facilities? Findings from a small Native Reserve. Canadian Journal of Native Studies, 23, 143-164.

Li, H. Z. (2002). Culture, gender and self-close-other(s) connectedness in Canadian and Chinese samples. European Journal of Social Psychology, 32, 93-104.

Li, H. Z. (2001). Co-operative and intrusive interruptions in inter- and intra-cultural dyadic discourse. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 20, 259-284.

Li, H. Z. & Browne, A. (2000). Defining mental health illness and accessing mental health services: Perspectives of Asian immigrants. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 19(1), 143-159.

Li, H. Z. (1999). Grounding and communication in intra- and inter-cultural dyadic discourse. Discourse Processes, 28(3), 195-205.

Li, H. Z. (1999) Information communication in conversations: A cross-cultural comparison. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 23, 387-409.

Li, H. Z., Fish, D., & Zhou. X. C. (1999). Increase in cigarette smoking and decline of anti- smoking counselling practices among Chinese physicians: 1987-1996. Health Promotion International, 14, 123-131.

Essay (invited)

Li, H. Z. (2010). Making Connections between Mental Health and Physical Illness. Visions: BC's Mental Health and Addictions Journal, 6(3), 9-11.

Selected presentations

2020 Factors Influencing Adherence to Prescribed Medications and Lifestyle Changes of First Nations and Anglo-Canadians. 18th Interdisciplinary Conference of Medicine, Communication & Ethics (July), Aalborg University, Denmark (Virtual)

2019 Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services Among Asian Canadians: A Qualitative Inquiry. Sanya University, China, (December).

2018 Self-other boundary: A Cross-Cultural Comparison. Sanya University, China, (December).

2017 Gaze and Mutual Gaze in Chinese Canadian conversations. Sanya University, China (January).

2017 Culture and Health: A Canadian Perspective. The 5th Cross-Cultural Health Conference. Honolulu, O’ahu, Hawaii (February).

2014 Independent-Interdependent Self-Construal of Health Conceptions.  The 22nd Congress of International Association for Cross-cultural Psychology, Reims, France (July).

2014 Information communication and backchannel responses in intercultural conversations. The 22nd Congress of International Association for Cross-cultural Psychology, Reims, France (July).

2013 Information Communication between Chinese and Canadians. Sanya University (April).

2013 Grounding as a facilitator in Anglo-Canadian and Chinese conversations. Sanya University (April).

2012 The publication process in a western journal. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, China (June).

2011 The Relational Self Defined: Compare Canadians, Chinese and Indians. Conference on Psychology and Social Harmony, Wuhan, China (April).

2010 Backchannel Responses and Enjoyment of the Conversation: The More does not Necessarily Mean the Better. The 60th Annual Conference of International Communication Association, Singapore (June).

2010 Interruption and Patient Satisfaction in Resident-Patient Consultations. The 60th Annual Conference of International Communication Association, Singapore (June).

2009 Asymmetrical talk between Physicians and Patient. British Columbia Rural and Remote Health Research Network Second Annual Conference, Prince George, Canada (Sept.).

2009 Bridging the differences between the East and West: A sojourner in North America. the Centre for Oriental Studies, University of Alicante, Spain (March).

2008 Successful and unsuccessful interruptions: Implications for intercultural training The 2nd International Conference on Psychology, Athens, Greece (July).

2007 Grounding and Information Communication in Canadian-Chinese Discourse. The 57th Annual Conference of International Communication Association, San Francisco, USA (May).

2007 Patterns of Backchannel Responses in Canadian-Chinese Conversations. The 57th Annual Conference of International Communication Association, San Francisco, USA (May).

2007 Listener recall in intercultural conversations: Is grounding a facilitator? Second International Conference on Multicultural Discourse. Hangzhou, China (April).

2006 The dynamics of resident-patient communication: Data from Canada. The 56th Annual Conference of International Communication Association, Dresden, Germany (June).

2006 Interruption and involvement in discourse: Can intercultural interlocutors be trained? The 56th Annual Conference of International Communication Association, Dresden, Germany (June).

2006 The relational self defined: Comparing Canadians, Chinese and Indians. The 56th Annual Conference of International Communication Association, Dresden, Germany (June).

2006 Rethinking culture and self-construal: China as a middle land. The 56th Annual Conference of International Communication Association, Dresden, Germany (June).

2006 Backchannel responses as misleading feedback in intercultural conversations. The 10th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology, Bonn, Germany (June).

2006 Grounding and listener recall in Anglo-Canadian and Mainland Chinese conversations: Implications for intercultural training. The 10th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology, Bonn, Germany (June).

2005 Asymmetrical talk between physicians and patients. The 55th Annual Conference of International Communication Association, New York, USA (May).

2005 Patient training and patient satisfaction: Data from Canada. The 55th Annual Conference of International Communication Association, New York, USA (May).

2005 Communicating self-other boundary: Comparing Canadians and Chinese. The 55th Annual Conference of International Communication Association, New York, USA (May).

2005 China is more similar to Canadians than Indians: Self-construal. The 6th Biennial Conference of the Asian Association of Social Psychology, Wellington, New Zealand (April).

2005 Does Chinese gaze differently from Canadians? The 6th Biennial Conference of the Asian Association of Social Psychology, Wellington, New Zealand (April).

2005 Physicians and patients: Who interrupts whom and how. The IX International Symposium on Social Communication, Santiago De Cuba, Cuba (Jan).

2005 Does grounding facilitate information communication? The IX International Symposium on Social Communication, Santiago De Cuba, Cuba (Jan).

2004 Self-other connectedness in samples from China, India and Canada. The 28th International Congress of Psychology, Beijing, China (August).

2004 Self-other boundary: A qualitative-quantitative approach. The 28th International Congress of Psychology, Beijing, China (August).

2002 Comparing interruption patterns between Chinese and Anglo-Canadians. The 52nd Annual Conference of International Communication Association, Seoul, Korea (July).

2001 Gaze and mutual gaze in inter- and intra-cultural conversation. The 51st Annual Conference of International Communication Association, Washington DC, USA (May).

2000 Co-operative and intrusive interruptions in inter- and intra-cultural dyadic discourse. The 7th International Conference on Language and Social Psychology, Cardiff, Wales, UK (June-July).

1999 Grounding and communication in intra- and inter-cultural dyadic discourse. The 49th Annual Conference of International Communication Association, San Francisco, USA (May).

1998 Self-construal: A cross-cultural comparison. The XIV Congress of International Association of Cross-cultural Psychology, Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A. (August).

1997 Cigarette smoking and anti-smoking counselling among Chinese physicians. The 10th World Conference on Tobacco and Health, Beijing, China (August).

1996 Are immigrants using the health care system? The XXVI International Congress of Psychology, Montreal, Canada (August).

1995 Inter-and Intra-cultural Information Transmission. The 45th Annual Conference of International Communication Association. Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA (May).

Book (historical fiction; peer-reviewed)

Li, Han Z. (2004). The Water Lily Pond: A Village girl's Journey in Maoist China (252 pages, ISBN: 0-88920-431-4), Wilfrid Laurier University Press.

The Water Lily Pond is now translated into German (Der Seerosenteich) by Irene Prüfer Leske and published by Ibidem-Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany (2008); ISBN: 978-3-89821-851-1; 261 pages.

This book is advertised on the following websites:

ISBN 0-88920-431-4; Paper, $24.95; Key words: Women-China-Fiction

• Amazon
• Indigo

Quotes from anonymous reviewers

"I was totally engaged by this manuscript (The Water Lily Pond... I like the narrator, could hardly put it down and learned a lot."

"The Water Lily Pond focuses on the intricate blending of the young woman's life with the history of her country... The narrator's sweetness alongside her obvious intelligence is what gives the manuscript a special tone... It is this special tone that attracts the reader..."

"... Nowhere does the story's interest depend on exciting drama. Yet somehow the reader is held by it from beginning to end. ... Both in its content and style, The Water Lily Pond suggests to the reader the image of a water lily: unadorned, soft-hued, delicate, yet durable."
—University of Toronto Quarterly, 2006

"A poignant narrative... Threaded throughout the narrative are proverbs, parables and anecdotes. Embedded in each story are multiple tales that illustrate that there is no single truth; rather, there are many histories and stories... She evokes the timeless ribbons of the Chinese countryside. The author combines memoir, narrative, story and history, skillfully blurring genres in an innovative story."
—The Fiddlehead, Atlantic Canada's International Literary Journal, Autumn, 2004

"Gripping."
—The Vancouver Sun

"The language is fluid and beautiful. The story of May-ping is colorful, entertaining and insightful."
—The Regina Leader Post

"Arresting, compelling."
—The Edmonton Journal

"A jewel of a book; full of wisdom, love and the intriguing lure of possibility."
—The Prince George Citizen

"The engaging story blends elements of family history, contemporary sociology, the education of a village girl, the vicissitudes of politics, a search for romance, and a career that led to North America. Judicious use of folklore, fables, songs mottoes, proverbs, and fairy tales adds atmosphere to the tale."
—Canadian Book Review Annual