Dr. James Alan Neff

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Old Dominion University
College of Health Sciences
Community and Environmental Health
ProfessorAppointed: 2004
Professional Headshot of James Alan Neff

Mailing Address

School of Community and Environmental Health
Old Dominion University
3136 Health Sciences Building
Norfolk, Virginia 23529
United States

Contact Information

Phone: (757) 683-3830
Fax: (757) 683-6333
janeff@odu.edu

Expertise and Research Interests

Dr. Neff is currently Professor of Community and Environmental Health at Old Dominion University. He has 30+ years of experience conducting federally funded community based survey and evaluation research and has over 70 refereed publications in areas of psychological distress, depression, alcohol use, and HIV risk behaviors.

Dr. Neff has been Principal or Co-Investigator on roughly $13 million in externally funded research and his prior research funding includes: (1) a large-scale NIAAA-funded prospective study (R01-AA06723) of sociocultural influences upon drinking patterns and alcohol-related problems among adult male and female Anglo, Black, and Mexican American regular drinkers, (2) an NIAAA grant (R01-AA08067) to examine relationships between drinking patterns and AIDS risk behaviors, (3) a NIAID funded research project to compare alternative models of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) education for primary care providers(U19-AI31498), (4) a CMHS funded demonstration/evaluation project involving provider education regarding mental health aspects of HIV/AIDS, and (5) two SAMHSA/CSAT funded Targeted Capacity Expansion projects focusing upon strategies to engage out-of-treatment drug users in substance abuse and HIV risk reduction interventions.

Most recently, Dr. Neff has served as Principal Investigator on two NIH-funded research development program grants focusing upon minority substance abuse: The Substance Abuse Research Development Program at the at the University of Texas at Austin (R24-AA13579) and the Meharry Alcohol Research Collaborative at Meharry Medical College (U01-AA014939). Both of these projects have involved extensive mentoring of junior faculty to help them develop fundable research programs.

Dr. Neff is currently Principal Investigator on a recently funded NIH/NIDCR ARRA Research Challenge Award titled "Adoption, Fidelity, and Effectiveness of Alcohol SBIRT in Dental Practice" (RC1-DE020563).

Dr. Neff's research interests include: health disparities,minority mental health and substance abuse; research methodology and program evaluation.

Dr. Neff currently serves as a regular member of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism "Epidemiology, Prevention, and Behavioral Research'(AA-2) Study section (2007 - 2011)

He is currently developing research projects addressing 1) implementation and effectiveness of dental practice based screening and brief interventions for alcohol abuse, and 2) the role spirituality and spiritual change as a mediator of outcomes of substance abuse treatment.

Keywords

COS Keywords:

AIDS, Alcohol Or Alcoholism, Community Health, Depression, Environmental Health, HIV, Minority Mental Health, Psychiatry, Public Health, Research Methodology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Social Work, Substance Abuse.

Additional Terms:

Minority Mental Health, Minority Substance Abuse.

Memberships

American Academy of Health Behavior
American Public Health Association
Research Society on Alcoholism

Honors and Awards

1997-2011, Member, National Institute of Alcohol and Alcoholism
1980-1982, Postdoctoral Scholar, National Institute of Mental Health, UCLA School of Public Health, Psychiatric Epidemiology
1974-1976, Predoctoral Fellow, National Institute of Mental Health, Florida State University Institute for Social Research, Community Mental Health Research

Previous Positions

2004-2006, Associate Dean for Research, Old Dominion University, College of Health Sciences
2003-2004, Professor and Director of Research, Meharry Medical College, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
2001-2003, Professor, University of Texas at Austin, School of Social Work
1997-2001, Associate Professor and Research Coordinator, University of Tennessee - Knoxville, College of Social Work
1984-1997, Associate Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Psychiatry
1982-1983, Assistant Professor, Duke University, College of Medicine, Community and Family Health

Funding Received

  • National Institute on Dental And Craniofacial Research grant #RC1-DE020563: Principal Investigator: "Adoption, Fidelity, and Effectiveness of Alcohol SBIRT in Dental Practice", $900,000, 2009 to 2011.
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism grant # U01-AA014939. $1,087,500 for 3 yrs: Principal Investigator: "Meharry Alcohol Research Collaborative (MARC)", 2003 to 2004.
  • SAMHSA/CSAT Grant # TI-15862-01: Co-Investigator/Evaluator: "Treatment Access Project for African-American Women", $2,500,000 for 5 yrs, 2003 to 2004.
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse Minority Supplement #R24-DA13579-02S2. $128,701 for 2 years: Principal Investigator: "Minority Supplement: Dawnovise Fowler, PhD", 2003 to 2004.
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse Administrative Supplement for Health Disparities #R24-DA13579-02S1. $167,400 for 2 years: Principal Investigator: "Methods to Study Ethnicity and Faith-Based Substance Abuse Treatment"., 2002 to 2004.
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse Grant # R24-DA13579: Principal Investigator: "Substance Abuse Research Development Program", $2,004,960 for 5 yrs, 2001 to 2003.
  • SAMHSA/CSAT grant #TI-12099: Co-Investigator: "Metropolitan Community AIDS Network (METRO CAN)." [Faith-Based HIV outreach program], $950,000 for 3 years, 1999 to 2002.
  • SAMHSA/CMHS grant SM19939: Co-Investigator: "South Texas AIDS Training for Mental Health Providers", $400,000 for 2 years, 1994 to 1997.
  • National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease Grant AI-31498: Principal Investigator: "STD Education and Training Center of South Texas"., $629,584 for 3 years, 1993 to 1996.
  • National Institute of Alcohol, Abuse, and Alcoholism Grant R01-AA-08067: Principal Investigator: "Alcohol Consumption and AIDS Risk Factors: A Tri-Ethnic Study"., $125,502, 1988 to 1991.
  • National Institute of Alcohol, Abuse, and Alcoholism Grant AA-06723: Principal Investigator: "Drinking Patterns and Consequences: A Tri-Ethnic Study"., $334,108 for 4 years, 1987 to 1991.
  • National Institute of Mental Health Grant R01-MH 36821: Co-Principal Investigator: "Medical Problems and Life Events as Risk Factors in Depression"., $180,000 for 3 years, 1982 to 1984.

Publications

  • Neff, J.A. (2008) Neff, J.A. "A New Multi-dimensional Measure of Spirituality-Religiosity for Use in Diverse Substance Abuse Treatment Populations", Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 47, 393-409
  • Neff, J.A. (2006) . "Exploring the Dimensionality of 'Religiosity' and 'Spirituality' in the Fetzer Multidimensional Measure"., Journal of the Scientific Study of Religion, 45 (3), 449 -459
  • DeBate, R, Vogel, E, Tedesco, L, Neff, JA (2006) . "Sex Differences among Dentists Regarding Eating Disorders and Secondary Prevention Practices", Journal of the American Dental Association, 137, 773 - 781
  • Neff, J.A., Shorkey, C.T., Cambraia-Windsor, L. (2006) "Comparing Faith-Based and Traditional Substance Abuse Treatment Programs", Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 30: 49 - 61, 2006., 30, 49 - 61
  • Neff JA, MacMaster SA, Applying Behavior Change Models to Understand Spiritual Change Mechanisms Underlying Change in Substance Abuse Treatment, The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 31, 1 - 16, 2005
  • Neff JA, MacMaster SA, Spiritual Mechanisms Underlying Substance Abuse Behavior Change in Faith-based Substance Abuse Treatment, Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 5(3), 33 - 54, 2005
  • Holleran LK, Taylor M, Pomeroy EC, Neff JA, Substance Abuse Prevention for High Risk Youth: Exploring Culture and Alcohol and Drug Use, Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 23, 165 - 184, 2005
  • 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 Abstract
  • 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 Abstract
  • 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 Abstract
  • MacMaster SA, Vail KA, Neff JA, The Xchange point: a drop-in center for African American active injection drug users, Health & Social Work, 27(3), 227-9, Aug 2002 Abstract
  • 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 Abstract
  • 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 Abstract
  • Holden P, Neff JA, Intensive outpatient treatment of persons with mental retardation and psychiatric disorder: a preliminary study, Mental Retardation, 38(1), 27-32, February 2000 Abstract
  • Neff JA, Amodei N, Martinez C Jr, Ingmundson P, HIV/AIDS mental health training for health care providers: an evaluation of three models, The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 69(2), 240-6, April 1999 Abstract
  • Neff JA, Crawford SL, The Health Belief Model and HIV risk behaviours: a causal model analysis among Anglos, African-Americans and Mexican-Americans, Ethnicity & Health, 3(4), 283-99, November 1998 Abstract
  • Neff JA, Gaskill SP, Prihoda TJ, Weiner RV, Rydel KB, Continuing medical education versus clinic-based STD and HIV education interventions for primary care service providers: replication and extension, Aids Education and Prevention: Official Publication of the International Society for Aids Education, 10(5), 417-32, October 1998
  • Neff JA, Solitary drinking, social isolation, and escape drinking motives as predictors of high quantity drinking, among Anglo, African American and Mexican American males, Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire), 32(1), 33-41, January 1997
  • Stedman JM, Neff JA, Morrow D, Career pathways and current practice patterns of clinical and counseling psychologists: a follow-up study of former interns, Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51(3), 441-8, May 1995 Abstract
  • Neff JA, Burge SK, Alcohol use, liberal/conservative orientations, and ethnicity as predictors of sexual behaviors, Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology : Official Publication of the International Retrovirology Association., 8(3), 302-12, March 1995 Abstract
  • Neff JA, Adult children of alcoholic or mentally ill parents: alcohol consumption and psychological distress in a tri-ethnic community study, Addictive Behaviors, 19(2), 185-97, March 1994
  • Neff JA, Life stressors, drinking patterns, and depressive symptomatology: ethnicity and stress-buffer effects of alcohol, Addictive Behaviors, 18(4), 373-87, July 1993
  • Neff JA, Hoppe SK, Acculturation and drinking patterns among U.S. Anglos, blacks, and Mexican Americans, Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire), 27(3), 293-308, May 1992
  • Neff JA, Prihoda TJ, Hoppe SK, 'Machismo,' self-esteem, education and high maximum drinking among anglo, black and Mexican-American male drinkers, Journal of Studies On Alcohol, 52(5), 458-63, September 1991
  • Neff JA, McFall SL, Explaining trends in use of VA inpatient psychiatric services, Health Services Research, 25(1 Pt 2), 257-68, April 1990 Abstract
  • Neff JA, McFall SL, Cleaveland TD, Psychiatry and medicine in the US: interpreting trends in medical specialty choice, Sociology of Health & Illness, 9(1), 45-61, March 1987 Abstract
  • Neff JA, Alcohol consumption and psychological distress among U.S. Anglos, Hispanics and Blacks, Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire), 21(1), 111-9, 1986
  • Neff JA, Husaini BA, Stress-buffer properties of alcohol consumption: the role of urbanicity and religious identification, Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 26(3), 207-22, September 1985 Abstract
  • Neff JA, Race and vulnerability to stress: an examination of differential vulnerability, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 49(2), 481-91, August 1985 Abstract
  • Neff JA, Evaluating the stress-buffering role of alcohol consumption: variation by type of event and type of symptom, Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire), 20(4), 391-401, 1985
  • Neff JA, Race differences in psychological distress: the effects of SES, urbanicity, and measurement strategy, American Journal of Community Psychology, 12(3), 337-51, June 1984 Abstract
  • Neff JA, The stress-buffering role of alcohol consumption: the importance of symptom dimension, Journal of Human Stress, 10(1), 35-42, Spring 1984 Abstract
  • Neff JA, Urbanicity and depression reconsidered. The evidence regarding depressive symptomatology, The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 171(9), 546-52, September 1983 Abstract
  • Neff JA, Husaini BA, Life events, drinking patterns and depressive symptomatology; the stress-buffering role of alcohol consumption, Journal of Studies On Alcohol, 43(3), 301-18, March 1982 Abstract
  • Husaini BA, Neff JA, Social class and depressive symptomatology. The role of life change events and locus of control, The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 169(10), 638-47, October 1981 Abstract
  • Neff JA, Husaini BA, McCorkel J, Psychiatric and medical problems in rural communities, Social Science & Medicine. Medical Psychology & Medical Sociology, 14A(4), 331-6, June 1980 Abstract
  • Husaini BA, Neff JA, Characteristics of life events and psychiatric impairment in rural communities, The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 168(3), 159-66, March 1980 Abstract
  • Husaini BA, Neff JA, Stone RH, Psychiatric impairment in rural communities, Journal of Community Psychology, 7(2), 137-46, April 1979 Abstract
  • Kim, Y.M., Neff, J.A., "Direct and Indirect Effects of Parental Influence upon Adolescent Alcohol Use: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis.", Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, 2009, In Press
  • Neff, J.A., "Confirmatory Factor Analysis Validation of a Four-Factor Measure of Spirituality--Religiosity for Use in Diverse Substance Abuse Treatment Populations", Review of Religious Research, In Press
  • Neff, J.A., Downs, JM, "Alcohol use, predisposing, enabling, and oral health need variables as predictors of dental service use in the 2002 National Health Examination Survey", Substance Use and Misuse, In Press

Qualifications

M.P.H., University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Public Health, 1995.
NIMH Post-Doctoral Scholar, University of California, Los Angeles, Public Health, 1982.
Ph.D., Florida State University, Sociology, 1977.
M.S., Florida State University, Sociology, 1975.
B.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Psychology and Sociology, 1974.
NIMH Pre-Doctoral Fellow, Florida State University, Sociology, 1974.

Profile Details

Last Updated: 11/5/2009

COS Expertise ID #1164973
Reference this profile directly: http://myprofile.cos.com/jimneff