John M. Light, Ph.D., Research Scientist
Contact
Education & Training
B.A., 1970
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Political Science
M.A., 1973
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Sociology
Ph.D., 1975
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Mathematical Sociology
Dr. Light holds a Ph.D. in Mathematical Sociology from UCLA. His primary interests are child and adolescent social development, social influence, social networks, and mathematical approaches to social dynamics. Prior to joining ORI, he held teaching positions in sociology and statistics at Princeton University, The University of California at Riverside, and Pomona College, and more recently held research appointments at UCLA, the Prevention Research Center, UC San Diego, and the University of Oregon.
Current Projects
PROJECT PERIOD09/05/15 - 06/30/20 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Emergent Social Environments as Predictors of Recovery Resident Outcomes
PROJECT PERIOD06/01/15 - 05/31/20 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) CURRENT STATUSActive and Not Recruiting TEAMPrincipal Investigator |
Peer Influence and Selection Mechanisms Underlying Adolescent Problem Behaviors
PROJECT PERIOD09/30/13 - 06/30/19 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Social-Spatial Risk and Protective Mechanisms in Urban Adolescent Substance Use
PROJECT PERIOD04/01/12 - 03/31/17 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Ecological Momentary Assessment of Peer Affiliation, Perceptions, and Behavior
PROJECT PERIOD06/01/09 - 05/31/11 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Adolescent Peer Social Network Dynamics and Problem Behavior
PROJECT PERIOD04/01/08 - 04/30/14 FUNDING AGENCYNational Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) CURRENT STATUSCompleted TEAMPrincipal Investigator Co-Investigators |
Publications
Westling, E., Rusby, J. C., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M., (2022). A longitudinal study of e-cigarette, cigarette, and marijuana use sequence in youth. Tobacco Insights, 15, 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1179173X221101813
Jason LA, Guerrero M, Bobak T, Light JM, Stoolmiller M. Reducing health disparities among black individuals in the post-treatment environment. J Ethn Subst Abuse. 2020 Dec 30:1-17.
Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crowley, R., Mills, K. L., & Light, J. M. (2019). Associations between marijuana use and anxious mood lability during adolescence. Addictive Behaviors, 92, 89-94.
Light, J. M., Mills, K. L., Rusby, J. C., & Westling, E. (2019). Friend selection and influence effects for first heavy drinking episode in adolescence. Journal of Study on Alcohol and Drugs, 80(3), 349–357.
Rusby, J. C., Mason, M., Gau, J. F., Westling, E., Light, J. M., Mennis, J., Zaharakis, N. M., & Flay, B. R. (2019). Relational victimization and peer affiliate prosocial behaviors in African American adolescents: Moderating effects of gender and antisocial behavior. Journal of Adolescence, 71, 91-98.
Rusby, J. C., Light, J. M., Crowley, R., & Westling, E. (2018). Influence of parent-youth relationship, parental monitoring, and parent substance use on adolescent substance use onset. Journal of Family Psychology, 32, 310-320.
Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M. (2018). Legalization of recreational marijuana and community sales policy in Oregon: Impact on adolescent willingness and intent to use, parent use, and adolescent use. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 32, 84-92. doi:10.1037/adb0000327
Zaharakis, N., Mason, M. J., Mennis, J., Light, J., Rusby, J. C.,Westling, E., . . . Way, T. (2018). School, friends, and substance use: Gender differences on the influence of attitudes toward school and close friend networks on cannabis involvement. Prevention Science, 19, 138-146. doi:10.1007/s11121-017-0816-y
Mason, M. J., Zaharakis, N. M., Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Light, J. M., Mennis, J., & Flay, B. R. (2017). A longitudinal study predicting adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use by behavioral characteristics of close friends. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. Advance online publication. doi:10.1037/adb0000299
Westling, E., Rusby, J. C., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M. (2017). Electronic cigarette use by youth: Prevalence, correlates, and use trajectories from middle school to high school. Journal of Adolescent Health, 60, 660–666.
Mason, M. J., Light, J. M., Mennis, J., Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crewe, S., . . . Flay, B. R. (2017). Neighborhood disorder, peer network health, and substance use among young urban adolescents. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 178, 208-214. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.05.005
Light, J. M., Jason, L. A., Stevens, E. B., Callahan, S., & Stone, A. (2016). A Mathematical Framework for the Complex System Approach to Group Dynamics: The Case of Recovery House Social Integration. Group Dynamics, 20, 51-64. doi: 10.1037/gdn0000040
Mennis, J., Mason, M., Light, J., Rusby, J., Westling, E., Way, T., . . . Flay, B. (2016). Short communication: Does substance use moderate the association of neighborhood disadvantage with perceived stress and safety in the activity spaces of urban youth? Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 165, 288-292.
Jason, L. A., Light, J., & Callahan, S. (2016). Dynamic social networks. In L. A. Jason, D. S. Glenwick, L. A. Jason & D. S. Glenwick (Eds.), Handbook of methodological approaches to community-based research: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. (pp. 219-229). New York, NY, US: Oxford University Press.
Mason, M., Mennis, J., Light, J., Rusby, J., Westling, E., Crewe, S., . . . Zaharakis, N. (2016). 'Parents, peers, and places: Young urban adolescents’ microsystems and substance use involvement': Erratum. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25, 1712-1712. doi: 10.1007/s10826-016-0392-y
Mason, M., Mennis, J., Light, J., Rusby, J., Westling, E., Crewe, S., Way, T., Flay, B., & Zaharakis, N. (2016) Parents, peers and places: Young urban adolescents’ microsystems and substance use involvement. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25, 1441–1450.
Jason, L. A., Stevens, E., & Light, J. M. (2016). The relationship of sense of community and trust to hope. Journal of Community Psychology, 44, 334-341. doi: 10.1002/jcop.21771
Stone, A., Jason, L. A., Light, J. M., & Stevens, E. B. (2016). The role of ego networks in studies of substance use disorder recovery. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 34, 315-328. doi: 10.1080/07347324.2016.1182818
Stevens, E., Jason, L. A., Ram, D., & Light, J. (2015). Investigating Social Support and Network Relationships in Substance Use Disorder Recovery. Substance Abuse, 36(4), 396-399. doi:10.1080/08897077.2014.965870
Mason, M., Light, J., Campbell, L., Keyser-Marcus, L., Crewe, S., Way, T., & ... McHenry, C. (2015). Peer Network Counseling with Urban Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Moderate Substance Users. Journal Of Substance Abuse Treatment, doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2015.06.013
Mason, M., Mennis, J., Way, T., Light, J., Rusby, J., Westling, E., & ... McHenry, C. (2015). Young adolescents' perceived activity space risk, peer networks, and substance use. Health & Place, 34, 143-149. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.04.005
Light, J. M., Rusby, J. C., Nies, K. M., & Snijders, T. B. (2014). Antisocial behavior trajectories and social victimization within and between school years in early adolescence. Journal Of Research on Adolescence, 24(2), 322-336.
Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M. (2013). Psychosocial correlates of physical and sedentary activities of early adolescent youth. Health Education & Behavior, 41(1), 42-51. doi:10.1177/1090198113485753
Rusby, J. C., Westling, E., Crowley, R., & Light, J. M. (2013). Concurrent and predictive associations between early adolescent perceptions of peer affiliates and mood states collected in real time via ecological momentary assessment methodology. Psychological Assessment, 25(1), 47–60. doi:10.1037/a0030393
Jason, L.A., Light, J.M., Stevens, E.B., & Beers, K. (2013). Dynamic social networks in recovery homes. American Journal of Community Psychology. Advance online publication. doi:10.1007/s10464-013-9610-6
Light, J., Greenan, C., Rusby, J., Nies, K., & Snijders, T. (2013). Onset to first alcohol use in early adolescence: A network diffusion model. Journal Of Research On Adolescence, 23(3), 487-499. doi:10.1111/jora.12064
Mason, B.J., Crean, R., Goodell, V., Light, J.M., Quello, S., Shadan, F., Buffkins, K., Kyle, M., Adusumalli, M., Begovic, A., & Rao, S. (2012). A proof-of-concept randomized controlled study of gabapentin: Effects on cannabis use, withdrawal and executive function deficits in cannabis-dependent adults. Neuropsychopharmacology, 37, 1689–1698.
Boyd-Ball, A.B., Dishion, T.J., Myers, M.W., & Light, J.M. (2011). Predicting American Indian adolescent substance use trajectories following inpatient treatment. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 10, 181–201.
Schaefer, D.R., Light, J.M., Fabes, R.A., Hanish, L.D., & Martin, C.L. (2010). Fundamental principles of network formation among preschool children. Social Networks, 32, 61-71.
Mason, B.J., Light, J.M., Escher, T., & Drobes, D.J. (2008). Effect of positive and negative affective stimuli and beverage cues on measures of craving in non treatment-seeking alcoholics. Psychopharmacology, 200, 141-150.
Mason, B.J., Light, J.M., Williams, L.D., & Drobes, D.J. (2008). Proof-of-concept human laboratory study for protracted abstinence in alcohol dependence: effects of gabapentin. Addiction Biolog, 14, 73-83.
Light, J.M., & Dishion, T.J. (2007). Early adolescent antisocial behavior and peer rejection: A dynamic test of a developmental hypothesis. New Directions in Child and Adolescent Development, 118, 77-89.
Stormshak, E.A., Dishion, T.J., Light, J.M., & Yasui, M. (2005) Implementing family-centered interventions within the public middle school: Linking service delivery to change in problem behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 33, 723-733.
Russell, M., Light, J.M., & Gruenewald, P.J. (2004) Alcohol Consumption and Problems: The Relevance of Drinking Patterns. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 28: 921-930.
Light, J.M., Grube, J.W., Madden, P.A., & Gover, J. (2003) Adolescent alcohol use and suicidal ideation: A nonrecursive model. Addictive Behaviors, 28 (4), 705-724.
Gruenewald, P.J., Johnson, F., Light, J.M., & Saltz, R., (2003) Drinking to extremes: Theoretical and empirical analyses of very heavy drinking among college students. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 64(6), 817-824.
Walker, S., Treno, A.J., Grube, J.W., & Light, J.M. (2003) Ethnic differences in adolescent driving after drinking and riding with drinking drivers. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 27(8), 1299-1304.
Gruenewald, P.J., Johnson, F., Light, J.M., Lipton, R., & Saltz, R., (2003) Understanding college drinking: Assessing dose-response from survey self-reports. Journal of Studies on Alcohol,64(4), 500-514.
Gruenewald, P.J., Russell, M., Light, J.M., Lipton, R., Searles, J., Johnson, F., Trevisan, M., Freudenheim, J., Muti, P., Carosella, A.M., & Nochajski, T.H.,(2002) One drink to a lifetime of drinking: Temporal structures of drinking patterns. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26(6), 916-925.
Moore, R. S., Light, J.M., Ames, G.M., & Saltz, R.F. (2001) General and job-related alcohol use and correlates in a municipal workforce. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 27(3), 543-560.
Light, J. M., Grigsby, J. S., & Bligh, M., (1996) Aging and heterogeneity: Genetics, social structure, and personality. The Gerontologist, 36(2), 165-173.
Light, J. M., Irvine, K. M., & Kjerulf, L. (1996). Estimating genetic and environmental effects of alcohol use and dependence from a national survey: a ‘quasi-adoption’ study. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 57(6), 507-520.
Experience
2009-Present
Research Scientist
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR
2005-2009
Associate Scientist
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR
2005-Present
Associate Scientist
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR
2003-2005
Methodologist/Associate Scientist
Child and Family Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
2001-2003
Senior Statistician
Department of Psychology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
1998-2001
Associate Scientist
Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, CA
1997-1998
Senior Statistician
Drug Abuse Research Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
1996-1997
Senior Statistician
Neuropsychiatric Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
1994-1996
Research Scientist
Vermont Alcohol Research Center, Colchester, VT
1983-1994
Principal Computer Consultant
J.M. Light & Associates, Claremont, CA
1980-1983
Director of Information Services
Ogilvy & Mather Advertising, New York, NY
1975-1980
Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
1970-1975
Programmer/Analyst
Survey Research Center and Graduate School of Education, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA