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James Alan Neff, PhD., MPH

Professor

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Research Interests:

Minority Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Research Design and Statistics, Program Evaluation

Education:

  • M.P.H.Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health at Houston, San Antonio Program.
  • Post Doctoral Scholar, University of California School of Public Health, Los Angeles.
  • Ph.D.Sociology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
  • M.S.Sociology Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
  • B.S.Sociology and Psychology,Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateUniversity

Teaching:

Research Methodology, Statistics and Computer Applications, Evaluation Research Methods

Selected Recent Publications:

  • Neff, J.A. "Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Fetzer 'Multidimensional Spirituality Measure': Dimensionality and Invariance across Ethnic Groups". Journal of the Scientific Study of Religion 45(3):449 - 459, 2006.
  • DeBate, R., Vogel, E., Tedesco, L., and Neff, J.A. "Gender Differences among Dentists Regarding Knowledge of Eating Disorders and Secondary Prevention Practice." Journal of the American Dental Association. 137: 773-781, 2006.
  • Neff, J.A., Shorkey, C.T, and Cambraia-Windsor, L. "Comparing Faith-Based and Traditional Substance Abuse Treatment Programs" Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 30: 49 - 61, 2006.
  • Neff, J.A. and MacMaster, S.A. "Applying Behavior Change Models to Understand Spiritual Mechanisms Underlying Change in Substance Abuse Treatment." American Journal of Alcohol and Drug Abuse 31: 1 - 16,2005.
  • Neff, J.A. and MacMaster, S.A, "Spiritual Mechanisms Underlying Substance Abuse Behavior Change in Faith-Based Substance Abuse Treatment." Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions 5: 33 - 54, 2005.
  • Holleran, L.K., Taylor, M., Pomeroy, E.C., and Neff, J.A. "Substance Abuse Prevention for High Risk Youth: Exploring Culture and Alcohol and Drug Use." Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 23: 165 - 184, 2005.
  • Linn JG, Neff JA, Theriot R, Harris JL, Interrante J, Graham ME, Reaching impaired populations with HIV prevention programs: A clinical trial for homeless mentally ill African-American men. Cellular and Molecular Biology. 49(7), 1167-75. Nov 2003.
  • Cummings SM, Neff JA, Husaini BA, Functional impairment as a predictor of depressive symptomatology: the role of race, religiosity, and social support. Health & Social Work. 28(1), 23-32. February 2003.
  • Neff. J.A. , Crawford, S, and MacMaster, S, Predicting Multiple Sex Partners Using the Health Belief Model: An Application of Causal Modeling Techniques among Anglos, African-Americans, and Mexican-Americans. Bulletin of HIV/AIDS and Social Work. 1, 41-65. 2003.
  • Neff JA, Amodei N, Valescu S, Pomeroy EC, Psychological adaptation and distress among HIV+ Latina women: adaptation to HIV in a Mexican American cultural context. Social Work in Health Care. 37(3), 55-74. 2003.
  • Zule WA, Desmond DP, Neff JA, Syringe type and drug injector risk for HIV infection: a case study in Texas. Social Science & Medicine (1982). 55(7), 1103-13. October 2002.
  • Neff JA, Zule WA, Predictive validity of a measure of treatment readiness for out-of-treatment drug users: enhancing prediction beyond demographic and drug history variables. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 28(1), 147-69. 2002.
  • Neff, J.A, A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of a Measure of 'Machismo' Among Anglo, African American and Mexican American Male Drinkers. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Science. 23, 171-188. 2001.
  • Neff JA, Zule WA, Predicting treatment-seeking behavior: psychometric properties of a brief self-report scale. Substance Use & Misuse. 35(4), 585-99. March 2000.

Funded Research Experience:

  • Principal Investigator. "Meharry Alcohol Research Collaborative (MARC)", National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism grant # U01-AA014939. $1,087,500 for 3 yrs: 2003 to 2004.
  • Principal Investigator. "Methods to Study Ethnicity and Faith-Based Substance Abuse Treatment".National Institute on Drug Abuse Administrative Supplement for Health Disparities #R24-DA13579-02S1. $167,400 for 2 years: , 2002 to 2004.
  • Principal Investigator. "Substance Abuse Research Development Program", National Institute on Drug Abuse Grant # R24-DA13579:$2,004,960 for 5 yrs, 2001 to 2003.
  • Principal Investigator. "STD Education and Training Center of South Texas" .National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease Grant AI-31498: $629,584 for 3 years, 1993 to 1996.
  • Principal Investigator. "Alcohol Consumption and AIDS Risk Factors: A Tri-Ethnic Study". National Institute of Alcohol, Abuse, and Alcoholism Grant R01-AA-08067:$125,502, 1988 to 1991.
  • Principal Investigator. "Drinking Patterns and Consequences: A Tri-Ethnic Study". National Institute of Alcohol, Abuse, and Alcoholism Grant AA-06723: $334,108 for 4 years, 1987 to 1991.

Contact:

3136 Technology Building, College of Health Sciences Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23529 Phone: 757-683-3830 Fax: 757-683-6333, Email: janeff@odu.edu