Dr. Jesus Alfonso D. Datu

Assistant Professor, Department of Special Education and Counselling

Programme Leader, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Special Education

Lab Leader, Science of Happiness and Positive Education (SHAPE) Lab https://shapelab2020.wixsite.com/shapelab2020

Affiliated Researcher, Integrated Centre for Well-Being (I-WELL)

The Education University of Hong Kong

Associate Editor, Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being; Journal of Happiness Studies; Current Psychology; International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education

Senior Associate Editor, School Psychology International

Editorial Board, Asian Journal of Social Psychology; School Psychology; International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology

Editorial Advisory Board, Philippine Journal of Psychology

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jesus_Alfonso_Datu

1. First, list your current professional title. Second, describe your background, experience, and research as it relates to Quality-of-life studies. Feel free to describe this in detail.

Currently, I am an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education and Counselling of The Education University of Hong Kong. I am also the Programme Leader of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Special Education. Further, I am the Lab Leader of the Science of Happiness and Positive Education (SHAPE) Lab, a research group that is dedicated to understanding psychological factors and interventions that facilitate well-being in children, adolescents, and adults in non-Western contexts. My research interests revolve around positive psychology, positive education, and inclusive education. My research programs on positive psychology and positive education directly relate to quality-of-life studies as they primarily concentrate on investigating how psychological factors and interventions facilitate well-being outcomes and positive academic functioning. In addition, my research interest in inclusive education aligns with quality-of-life studies as it focuses on exploring how specific character strengths and values promote positive attitude towards individuals with diverse types of disabilities or exceptionalities.

2. What initially attracted you to the field of quality-of-life studies?

I have gained initial interest in studying constructs related to quality-of-life when I was still an undergraduate student in Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Manila. I was interested at understanding how broader personality traits contribute to perceptions of subjective well-being among children, adolescents, and adults. My interest in exploring antecedents and consequences of subjective well-being has incrementally grown as I gradually move to my master's and doctoral studies.

3. What are some areas of quality-of-life studies you feel are lacking attention? Any advice for future QoL researchers?

I believe that there are two areas in QoL fields that may require further investigations. Firstly, more research is warranted to understand well-being interventions that facilitate psychological health in non-WEIRD (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic) societies. Secondly, there is dearth of research on quality-of-life indicators in individuals with diverse types of special educational needs and exceptionalities. Hence, addressing these scholarly gaps may serve as a pathway for promoting culturally sensitive and inclusive QoL scientific community across the globe.

4. How long have you been a member of ISQOLS? Why did you choose to be a member of ISQOLS? How has your involvement in ISQOLS impacted your career/research/advancement in your knowledge of QoL studies?

I am a member of the ISQOLS since July 2020. I have joined this organization as my research programs directly relate to its organizational mission and scientific initiatives. My involvement in ISQOLS has helped me connect to various QOL researchers locally and internationally.

5. Feel free to include any other important comments or things you'd like to share with the ISQOLS community.

One of my current projects focus on exploring how QoL constructs such as subjective well-being predict learning processes and outcomes among children and adolescents in non-Western contexts. Please feel free to contact me at jadatu@eduhk.hk if you are interested in this collaborative project.