Jordan Davis 
Assistant Professor and Assistant Director, USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society | USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
Los Angeles, CA, UNITED STATES
Professor Davis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Spotlight
Biography
Jordan Davis is an assistant professor in the department of Children, Youth and Families. He has devoted much of his career to research addressing substance use and the developmental needs of marginalized and vulnerable populations. Davis also focuses on the utility and development of longitudinal data analyses in the structural equation modeling framework.
Davis’ primary research focuses on substance use disorder treatment among marginalized youth. His intervention work mainly concentrates on Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention and how it can be utilized to address issues facing at-risk youth. Davis has conducted the first randomized controlled trial assessing Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention and the effect on stress, craving and substance use among at-risk young adults in residential treatment. Davis’ research spans to understanding both psychological and physiological stress responses and self-regulation, and how changes in these systems can alter treatment and developmental outcomes.
Recently, Davis has focused on understanding how the development of early life risk and protective factors are associated with sexual violence victimization and perpetration, as well as teen dating violence.
Davis has been funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Fahs Beck Fund for Experimentation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has been named a Fahs-Beck scholar, a Society for Social Work Research Doctoral fellow, and has received numerous awards for his doctoral work on marginalized young adults.
To reference the work of Jordan Davis online, we ask that you directly quote their work where possible and attribute it to "Jordan Davis, a faculty at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work” (LINK: https://dworakpeck.usc.edu)
Education (3)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: PhD 2017
Syracuse University: MSW 2009
Auburn University: BS 2007
Accomplishments (6)
Doctoral Fellow, Society for Social Work Research (professional)
2017
Scholar, Fahs-Beck (professional)
2016
Student Merit Award, Research Soceity on Alcoholism (professional)
2016
Award, Ernie Gullerud Dissertation (professional)
2016
Fellowship, Society for Prevention Research (professional)
2016
Graduate College Research Travel Award, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (professional)
2012
Research Articles & Publications (25)
Protective Factors for Sexual Violence: Understanding How Trajectories Relate to Perpetration in High School
Prevention ScienceKathleen C. Basile1 & Whitney L. Rostad1 & Ruth W. Leemis1 & Dorothy L. Espelage2 & Jordan P. Davis3
2018-08-27
Adolescent sexual violence (SV) perpetration is a significant public health problem. Many risk factors for perpetration are known, but less is known about what protects youth from perpetration, or how protective factors change over time. This longitudinal study reports trajectories of four potential protective factors for SV perpetration (empathy, parental monitoring, social support, and school belonging) across middle and high school and examines their relationship to SV perpetration in high school. Findings reveal that youth who identified as SV perpetrators had significantly lower mean empathy scores (d = − 0.18, 95%CI [−0.26,−0.10]) and social support scores (d = − 0.05, 95%CI [−0.14, −0.03]) at the beginning of middle school than non-perpetrators. We also found that youth who identified as SV perpetrators had a quicker deceleration in parental monitoring (slopes) and empathy from middle to high school, compared to non-perpetrators. Within-sex differences emerged; significant differences in slopes were detected for school belonging between male perpetrators and male non-perpetrators (Wald test = 3.76 (1), p = .05) and between female perpetrators and female non-perpetrators (Wald test = 3.95(1), p = .04). Significant differences in slopes for empathy between female perpetrators and female non-perpetrators (Wald test = 4.76(1), p = .03) were also detected. No differences were found between male and female SV perpetrators for either empathy or school belonging. These findings have implications for the content and timing of adolescent SV prevention efforts. Intervention in adolescence, involving parents and schools in a comprehensive, multi-level approach, may be effective in preventing SV perpetration.
Substance use outcomes for mindfulness based relapse prevention are partially mediated by reductions in stress: Results from a randomized trial
Journal of Substance Abuse TreatmentJordan P. Davisa,⁎, Daniel Berryb, Tara M. Dumasc, Ellen Ritterd, Douglas C. Smithe, Christopher Menardf, Brent W. Robertsg
2018-05-16
Mindfulness based relapse prevention (MBRP) has demonstrated efficacy in alleviating substance use, stress, and craving but how MBRP works for marginalized young adults has not been investigated. The current study used a novel rolling group format for MBRP as an additional intervention for young adults in residential treatment. We tested the hypothesis that MBRP (plus Treatment as usual (TAU)) would reduce stress, craving, and substance use among young adults in residential treatment relative to treatment-as-usual plus 12-step/selfhelp meetings (TAU only). Further, we examined whether reduced stress during treatment was a potential mechanism of change operating in MBRP. Method: Seventy-nine young adults (Mage=25.3,SD=2.7;35%female) were randomly assigned to MBRP (n=44) or TAU (n=35). Follow-up assessments were conducted bi-monthly for self-reported measures of stress, craving, and substance use. Results: At treatment completion young adults receiving MBRP had lower substance use (d=−0.58, [−0.91, −0.26]), craving (d=−0.58, [−1.0, −0.14]), and stress (d=−0.77 [−1.2, −0.30]) relative to TAU condition. Reduced stress during treatment partially mediated observed outcome differences between MBRP and TAU for substance use (βindirect=−0.45 [−0.79, −0.11]). Conclusions: Results suggest that MBRP is a useful and appropriate intervention for marginalized young adults. Further, our results suggest that the effects of MBRP on long-term substance use outcomes may be partially explained by reduced stress.
Early childhood adversity and emerging adult development
Emerging AdulthoodDavis, J.P., Dumas, T.M., & Roberts, R.W.
In Press
Effect of victimization on binge drinking and impulse control among serious juvenile offenders from adolescence through young adulthood
Journal of Youth and AdolescenceDavis, J.P., Dumas, T.M., Berey, B., Cimpinian-Robinson, J., Merrin, G.J., & Roberts, B.W.
In Press
Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Outcomes for Emerging Adults in Non-College Settings: A Meta-analysis
Psychology of Addictive BehaviorsDumas, T.D., Maxwell-Smith, M., Davis, J.P., & Giulietti, P.A.
2017
Lying or longing for likes? Narcissism, peer belonging, loneliness and normative versus deceptive like-seeking behavior on Instagram in emerging adulthood
Computers and Human BehaviorDumas, T.D., Maxwell-Smith, M., Davis, J.P., & Giulietti, P.A.
In Press
A longitudinal examination of homophobic name-calling perpetration in middle school: bullying, traditional masculinity, and sexual harassment as predictors
Psychology of ViolenceEspelage, D.L., Hong, J.S., Merrin, G.J., Davis, J.P., Rose, C.A., Little, T.D.
In Press
A longitudinal analysis of adolescent popularity motivations as a predictor of engagement in relational aggression and risk behaviors
Youth and SocietyDumas, T.M., Davis, J.P., & Ellis, W.E.
In Press
How to change conscientiousness: The sociogenomic trait intervention model
Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment.Roberts, B.W., Hill, P., & Davis, J.P.
In Press
Predictive validity of a single item motivational measure for remerging adults in substance use disorder treatment
Journal of the Society for Social Work and ResearchSmith, D.C., Davis, J.P., Mendoza, N., & Shang, S.
In Press
Testing a matching hypothesis for emerging adults in Project MATCH: During-treatment and 1-year outcomes
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 78(1), 140-145Davis, J.P., Bergman, B.B., Smith, D.C., & Kelly, J.
2016
Social ecological determinants of substance use treatment entry among serious juvenile offenders
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 71, 8-15.Davis, J.P., Merrin, G.J., Dumas, T.M., & Berry, D, Wagner, E.F.
2016
Young adulthood is the crucible of personality development
Emerging AdulthoodRoberts, B.W., & Davis, J.P.
2016
Informed assent recall errors among adolescents in substance use treatment outcome research
Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, 1-11.Davis, J.P., Smith, D.C., Cleeland, L.R., & Lux, E.
2016
The longitudinal associations between substance use, crime, and social risk among emerging adults: A longitudinal within and between-person latent variables analysis
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 165(1), 71-78.Merrin, G.J., Davis, J.P., Berry, D., D’Amico L.J, & Dumas, T.M.
2016
Brief Motivational Interviewing and Normative Feedback for Adolescents: Change Language and Alcohol Use Outcomes
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 65, 66-73.Davis, J.P., Houck, J.M., Rowell, N., Benson, J., & Smith, D.C.
2016
Six month outcomes of a peer-enhanced community reinforcement approach for emerging adults with substance misuse: A preliminary study
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 61, 66-73.Smith, D.C., Davis, J.P., & Dumas, T.M.
2016
Cannabis withdrawal, post treatment abstinence, and days to first cannabis use among emerging adults in substance use treatment
Journal of Drug Issues, 46(1), 64-83.Davis, J.P., Smith D.C., Morphew, J.W., Lei, X., & Zhang, S.
2016
Examining within-person and between-person effects of victimization and social risk on cannabis use among emerging adults in substance use treatment
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 30, 52-63.Davis, J.P., Merriam, J., Berry, D., Dumas, T., Hong, J.S., & Smith, D.C.
2016
[Review of the book The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma]
Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions 15(1), 131-133.Davis, J.P., & Smith D.C.
2015
Normative feedback and adolescent readiness to change: A small randomized trial
Research on Social Work Practice, 25(7), 801-814.Smith, D.C., Davis, J.P., Ureche, D., & Tabb, K.M.
2015
Racial Matching and Adolescent Self-Disclosure of Substance Use and Mental Health Symptoms
Ethnicity and Substance Use, 1-13.Ureche, D., Smith, D.C., Davis, J.P., & Tabb, K.
2015
Self-perceived emerging adult status and substance use
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 28(3), 935.Smith, D.C., Cleeland, L.R., Sensoy, Bahar, O., & Davis, J.P.
2014
Motivational interviewing with and without normative-feedback for adolescents with substance use problems: A preliminary study
A preliminary study. Substance Abuse, 36(3), 350-358.Smith D.C., Ureche, D., Davis, J.P., & Walters, S.T.
2014
A conceptual framework for understanding the association between school bullying victimization and substance misuse.
The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 84 (6) 696-710.Hong, J.S., Davis, J.P., Sterzing, P.R., Yoon, J., Choi, S., & Smith, D.C.,
2014
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