Xin MA 馬 鑫

Assistant Professor

Academic Qualifications

Ph.D. in Communication, University of Maryland, Maryland, USA

Research Area

Public Relations; Strategic Communication; Crisis Communication; Science, Environmental, and Health Communication; Media Psychology

Selected Publications

  1. Ding, L., Lu, J., & Ma, X. (corresponding author) (in press). WeChat use, cognitive function, and depressive symptoms: Examining longitudinal relationships among Chinese older adults. Mass Communication & Society. (SSCI Journal, Q1 in Communication, 2024 Impact Factor = 2.7) https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2025.2546449
  2. Ma, X., Xia, S, & Ding, L. (2025). Building community resilience and calling for collective actions: How organizations and publics communicate disaster aid on social media. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications. (SSCI Journal, Q1 in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 2024 Impact Factor = 3.6) https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05049-7
    *(Top Three Student Papers: Third Place in Public Relations Division in ICA 2023)
  3. Ding, L., & Ma, X. (corresponding author) (2025). “Middle-aged old mothers” in Chinese social media: Humorous motherhood counter-discourse. Feminist Media Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2025.2509014 (SSCI Journal, Q2 in Communication, 2024 Impact Factor = 1.7)
  4. Tao, P., & Ma, X. (corresponding author) (2024). Validating the distinctiveness between transilience and efficacy constructs in China. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06864-y (SSCI Journal, Q1 in Multidisciplinary Psychology, 2023 Impact Factor = 2.6)
  5. Dai, M., Xia, S., Calabrese, C., Ma, X., & Chen, T. (2024). Behavioral and demographic factors associated with STI testing adherence among Non-Single Men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-024-00524-z (SSCI Journal, Q1 in Clinical Psychology, 2024 Impact Factor = 2.9)
  6. Ma, X., Ma, L., & Liu, B. F. (2023). Should relationships be at the heart of public relations?: A meta-analysis of the antecedents and outcomes of organization-public relationships. Public Relations Review, 49(5), 102388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2023.102388 (SSCI Journal, Q1 in Communication, 2024 Impact Factor = 3.4)
  7. Niu, R., & Ma, X (corresponding author) (2023). Warranted inferences of mediation and the possibility of a threshold effect: Verifying the mediating effects of anger in Situational Crisis Communication Theory. Public Relations Review, 49(5), 102372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2023.102372 (SSCI Journal, Q1 in Communication, 2024 Impact Factor = 3.4)
    *(Top Three Student Papers: First Place in Public Relations Division in ICA 2023)
  8. Ma, X., Yang, Y., Tong, L., Zhang, Y., & Zheng, E. (2023). Loneliness, purpose in life, and protective behavior: Examining cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships in older adults before and during COVID-19. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, gbad117. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbad117 (SSCI Journal, Q1 in Multidisciplinary Psychology, 2024 Impact Factor = 3.2)
  9. Ma, X., Yang, Y., & Chen, L. (2023). Promoting behaviors to mitigate the effects of climate change: Using the Extended Parallel Process Model at the personal and collective level in China. Environmental Communication, 17(4), 353-369. https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2181134 (SSCI Journal, Q1 in Communication, 2024 Impact Factor = 4.1)
  10. Ma, X. & Chen, L. (2023). Seeking online health information for aged parents in China: A multigroup comparison of Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking based on eHealth literacy levels. International Journal of Communication, 17, 2326-2347. (SSCI Journal, Q2 in Communication, 2024 Impact Factor = 1.5)
  11. Liu, B. F., Atwell Seate, A., Kim, J. Y., Ma, X., Lee, S., & Hawblitzel, D. (2023). Blue or stormy skies?: The roles of strategic risk communication in protecting communities before, during, and after severe weather. In H. D. O’Hair & M. J. O’Hair (Eds.), Communication and catastrophic events: Strategic risk and crisis management. Wiley Blackwell.
  12. Yang, Y., Ma, X., & Myrick, J. (2023). Social media exposure, interpersonal communication, and tampon use: A multigroup comparison based on network structure. Journal of Health Psychology, 28(4), 343-355. https://doi.org/10.1177/135910532211203 (SSCI Journal, Q2 in Clinical Psychology, 2024 Impact Factor = 2.2)
  13. Liu, B. F., Atwell Seate, A., Kim, J. Y., Hawblitzel, D., Lee, S., & Ma, X. (2022). Relationships are built on sunny days: Uncovering quiet weather communication strategies. Weather, Climate & Society,14(1), 223-236. https://doi.org/10.1175/WCAS-D-21-0096.1 (SSCI Journal, Q3 in Environmental Studies, 2023 Impact Factor = 1.9)
  14. Ma, X., & Yuan, C. (2022). Technologies of refuge and displacement: Rethinking digital divides, by Linda Leung. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 99(4), 1171-1172. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077699019849580 (SSCI Journal, Q1 in Communication, 2024 Impact Factor = 3.6)
  15. Chen, L., Wang, P., Ma, X., & Wang, X. (2021). Cancer communication and user engagement on Chinese social media: Content analysis and topic modeling study. Journal of Medical Internet Research,23(11), e26310. http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/26310 (SCI Journal, Q1 in Medical Informatics, 2024 Impact Factor = 6.0)

Words to students 

To students who want to apply for the PhD program under my supervision, please be aware that I only supervise students with primary interests in quantitative communication research.

Courses Taught

Crisis Management (UG at UM)

Persuasion (UG at UM)

Special Topics in Public Relations (MA at UM)

Oral Communication: Principles and Practices (UG at UMD)

Introduction to Public Relations (UG at UMD)

Awards

Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad, July 2024

Top Student Paper Award, Public Relations Division, 73rd ICA Annual Conference, May 2023

Top Paper Award, The 707th PhD Academic Forum of Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, May 2023

Dean’s Fellowship, Department of Communication, University of Maryland, 2020-2024

Contact Details

Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS)
Humanities & Social Sciences Building (E21B), 2035
Tel: 8822 4788
Email:maxin@um.edu.mo