Bivariate Latent Change Score Models Research Articles

Examining compulsive exercise as a risk factor for eating disorder symptoms in first-year college students using a latent change score modeling approach.

Research suggests that both compulsive exercise and eating disordered behaviors increase during college. Despite strong cross-sectional associations between compulsive exercise and eating disorders, it is unknown if compulsive exercise is a variable risk factor for eating disorders or simply a correlate. It was hypothesized that increases in compulsive exercise would significantly and prospectively predict increases in overall number of eating disorder symptoms over the study period. A total of 265 first year college students who did not meet criteria for a full or subthreshold eating disorder diagnosis at Time 1 (age M = 18.15; SD = 0.42; 122 female [46%] at Time 1) completed reports of compulsive exercise and eating disorder symptoms via online questionnaires at four timepoints over the 9-month 2021-2022 academic year (76% retention rate). Hypotheses were tested using a bivariate latent change score model. Hypotheses were not supported. Change in compulsive exercise did not predict change in number of eating disorder symptoms. Change in number of eating disorder symptoms also did not predict change in compulsive exercise. Compulsive exercise did not emerge as a variable risk factor for the development of eating disorder symptoms among first year college students. The relationship between these behaviors should be investigated at different developmental timepoints, such as early adolescence, and potential third variables that may explain the observed co-occurrence should be explored. This study investigated whether increases in compulsive exercise predicted increases in number of eating disorder symptoms among first year college students. Compulsive exercise did not significantly predict number of eating disorder symptoms. Additional research is warranted to clarify the relationship between compulsive exercise and eating disorder symptoms.

Pathways to resilience: The parallel change in children's emotional difficulties and family context during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy.

The study analyses which pathways to adjustment emerged at the family level during the COVID-19 containment period in Italy, during which children were locked down with their families for 56 days from March 11 to May 6. Using a longitudinal design, with data pre- and postevent, a bivariate latent change score model analyzed the covariance of the change in family well-being (FW) and in emotional difficulties (ED), testing if the longitudinal change in ED is a function of the starting level of FW, and vice-versa. Children's stress reactions to the pandemic and other related experiences were included as additional predictors. A total of 166 middle school students (86 females) with a mean age of 11.14 (SD = .47) completed two online questionnaires, in January 2020 (T0) and in June 2020 (T1). Results showed that children's ED decreased significantly, on average, during the lockdown period, and FW remained constant. ED and FW change scores had a significant and negative covariation (β = - .46; p = .01). When family well-being increased emotional difficulties decreased, and vice versa. FW at T0 predicted no change in FW, nor did T0 scores of ED predict any change in FW. The strong intercorrelated change between children's ED and FW during the lockdown does not seem influenced by preexisting levels of individual and family functioning. Findings supported the view that for some families, the COVID-19 lockdown was also an opportunity to experience deeper emotional connections, contributing to a decrease in ED. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Dynamic Relationship between Commuting Time and Job Satisfaction: A Bivariate Latent Change Score Approach

Daily commuting and its impact on job satisfaction have been the focus of numerous studies. Limited research, however, has explored the bidirectional relationship between the two factors, and most studies have relied on cross-sectional designs. This study addresses this research gap by using four waves of panel data from the China Family Panel Studies to examine the dynamic and reciprocal relationship between commuting time and job satisfaction. A bivariate latent change score model is employed to analyze the data. Our findings reveal a bidirectional association between commuting time and job satisfaction. Individuals with high job satisfaction tend to maintain their commute time, whereas those with shorter commutes experience faster growth in job satisfaction. Increases in commute time positively affect employment income but have a negative impact on job satisfaction, suggesting that financial benefits might not fully compensate for the full cost of commuting on work. Moreover, changes in commute time do not significantly influence working hours, indicating that commuting primarily affects work–life balance rather than the actual hours worked. This study provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of commuting and job satisfaction, informing evidence-based policy decisions for managing commuting and improving employee satisfaction.

PREDICTING OLDER ADULTS’ CONTINUED COMPUTER USE AFTER INITIAL ADOPTION

Abstract Digital technologies have the potential to help older adults in various aspects of their lives, but older adults need to adopt and keep using the new technologies to reap the benefits. Previous research on digital divide mainly focuses on adoption and acceptance of new technologies, and little is known about what might influence actual use and disuse after this initial stage. The current study modeled changes in constructs related to computer use after initial computer adoption and examined whether these changes predict continued use. We used data from the computer arm (N = 150, MAge = 76.15) of a 12-month field trial examining the potential benefits of computer use in older adults. Individual differences identified in the technology acceptance literature (perceived usefulness, ease of use, computer interest, computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety, quality of life, social isolation, and social support) were measured before (baseline), during (month 6), and after the intervention (posttest). Univariate and bivariate latent change score models examined changes in each predictor and their potential causal relationship with use. Results demonstrated large inter-individual differences in the change patterns of individual difference factors examined. Change in perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and computer interest, computer self-efficacy, and computer anxiety were correlated with but not predictive of change in use. Our findings demonstrate the limitation of popular constructs in technology acceptance literature in predicting continued use after initial adoption and point out important gaps in knowledge to be targeted in future investigations.

Assessing the Longitudinal Associations Between Decision-Making Processes and Attention Problems in Early Adolescence.

Cognitive functions and psychopathology develop in parallel in childhood and adolescence, but the temporal dynamics of their associations are poorly understood. The present study sought to elucidate the intertwined development of decision-making processes and attention problems using longitudinal data from late childhood (9-10 years) to mid-adolescence (11-13 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (n = 8918). We utilised hierarchical drift-diffusion modelling of behavioural data from the stop-signal task, parent-reported attention problems from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and multigroup univariate and bivariate latent change score models. The results showed faster drift rate was associated with lower levels of inattention at baseline, as well as a greater reduction of inattention over time. Moreover, baseline drift rate negatively predicted change in attention problems in females, and baseline attention problems negatively predicted change in drift rate. Neither response caution (decision threshold) nor encoding- and responding processes (non-decision time) were significantly associated with attention problems. There were no significant sex differences in the associations between decision-making processes and attention problems. The study supports previous findings of reduced evidence accumulation in attention problems and additionally shows that development of this aspect of decision-making plays a role in developmental changes in attention problems in youth.

Recovering Developmental Bivariate Trajectories in Accelerated Longitudinal Designs with Dynamic Continuous Time Modeling

Accelerated longitudinal designs (ALDs) provide an opportunity to capture long developmental periods in a shorter time framework using a relatively small number of assessments. Prior literature has investigated whether univariate developmental processes can be characterized with data obtained from ALDs. However, many important questions in psychology and related sciences imply working with several variables that are intercorrelated as they unfold over time, such as cognitive and cortical development. Therefore, bivariate developmental models are required. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of continuous-time bivariate Latent Change Score (CT-BLCS) models for recovering the trajectories of two interdependent developmental processes using data from diverse ALDs. Through a Monte Carlo simulation study, the efficacy of different sampling designs and sample sizes was examined. The study fills a gap in the literature by examining the performance of ALDs in bivariate systems, providing specific recommendations for future application of ALDs for studying interrelated developmental variables.

Reciprocal relationships between narcissism and agentic versus communal work activities across the first 6 years of the career.

The vast majority of studies on trait narcissism have adopted a static unidirectional approach, documenting the mainly detrimental effects of this trait on a variety of work outcomes. The present study contributes to this literature by adopting a novel bidirectional perspective, investigating how trait narcissism shapes and is shaped by our experiences at work. Specifically, this study examines how trait narcissism develops during the first 6 years after the transition from college to work, and how agentic versus communal work demands may either enhance or diminish the development of this trait. Reciprocal relationships between narcissism and subjective and objective work activities are examined in a sample of 1,513 college alumni who were assessed four times across a time period of 6 years. Both selection (i.e., narcissism shapes work activities) and socialization effects (i.e., narcissism is shaped by work activities) were examined using bivariate latent change score models. Results showed that trait narcissism prior to the college-to-work transition positively predicted the selection of agentic work activities at the beginning of the career, but not future changes in these activities. Importantly, the results regarding socialization effects indicated that engagement in communal activities, particularly those that require relating with others at work (e.g., to help them), diminished trait narcissism over time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Longitudinal relationships between lifestyle risk factors and neurodevelopment in early adolescence.

The goal of this study is to investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between clustered lifestyle risk factors (sleep, physical activity, body mass index [BMI], and screen time) and neurodevelopment over the early adolescent period. Data from the ABCD Study Data Release 3.0 consisted of 11,878 participants (aged 9-10 years) at baseline and 6,571 participants (aged 11-12 years) at 2-year follow-up. The interrelationships between lifestyle risk factors and brain structure were analyzed using bivariate multiple indicator latent change score models. Using confirmatory factor analysis, a single lifestyle risk factor domain (measured by sleep, physical activity, BMI, and screen time) was shown to fit the data well. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, seven brain structure domains were extracted and labeled as temporal-parietal, frontotemporal, occipital, orbitofrontal, temporal, cingulate, parietal, and cuneus domains. All bivariate latent change score models accounted for age, sex at birth, race/ethnicity, parental education, and marital status. Higher lifestyle risk was associated with smaller brain volume at baseline. Higher baseline lifestyle risk was also associated with a greater rate of change (i.e., greater decreases) in brain volume for the temporal-parietal, frontotemporal, orbitofrontal, parietal, and cuneus domains. Effects were not reciprocal; baseline brain volume did not predict changes in lifestyle behaviors over time. These findings are important for understanding the biological mechanisms underpinning health risk factors and can be used to target interventions and improve brain health during this critical developmental phase. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Sustainability of Passion for Work? Change-Related Reciprocal Relationships Between Passion and Job Crafting

Although the importance of developing and sustaining passion for work over time has long been underscored, how this can be accomplished has yet to be elaborated and substantiated in the literature. Drawing upon the self-concordance model, we proposed a theoretical model in which harmonious work passion (i.e., passion derived from an autonomous internalization of work into one's identity) may develop and be sustained over time through promoting job crafting behaviors that, in turn, spur greater subsequent passion later on. However, obsessive work passion (i.e., passion emanated from a controlled internalization of work with intra- or interpersonal contingencies attached) is less likely to promote this self-reinforcing cycle. Multivariate latent change score modeling of six-wave longitudinal data over 15 months revealed the hypothesized relationships between harmonious work passion and overall job crafting but not between obsessive work passion and overall job crafting. Furthermore, through bivariate latent change score modeling, we found a change-related reciprocal relationship between harmonious passion and cognitive and task crafting but not with relational crafting. Interestingly, we also observed a change-related reciprocal relationship between obsessive passion and cognitive crafting. This research contributes to the literature on passion and job crafting by demonstrating a self-reinforcing cycle for workplace passion and job crafting over time.

The effects of a personality intervention on satisfaction in 10 domains of life: Evidence for increases and correlated change with personality traits.

The desire to change one's personality traits has been shown to be stronger if people are dissatisfied with associated aspects of their life. While evidence for the effects of interventions on personality trait change is increasing, it is unclear whether these lead to subsequent improvements in the satisfaction with various domains of life. In this study, we examined the effects of a 3-month digital-coaching personality change intervention study on 10 domains of satisfaction. We focused on the three largest intervention groups of the study (N = 418), which included participants who wanted to increase their Emotional Stability, Conscientiousness, or Extraversion. Bivariate latent change score models were used to examine correlated change between the targeted personality traits and satisfaction domains. We found that global life satisfaction and satisfaction with oneself as a person increased in all three intervention groups. In addition, increases in specific satisfaction domains were reported for the Conscientiousness (e.g., work/school, health, friendships) and Emotional Stability (e.g., family, sexual relationships, emotions) group. Increases were stable up to the 3-month follow-up. In contrast, the waitlist control group did not report any changes in global or domain-specific life satisfaction. Changes in the satisfaction domains were positively correlated with self-reported personality trait change to a similar degree as the cross-sectional associations, but not to observer-reported personality trait change. The personality intervention thus seemed to have a positive effect on satisfaction with various domains of life, which was associated with the degree of self-reported personality trait change. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Changes in cognitive processes and coping strategies precede changes in symptoms during cognitive therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder

Theories of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) highlight the role of cognitive and behavioral factors in its development, maintenance, and treatment. This study investigated the relationship between changes in factors specified in Ehlers and Clark's (2000) model of PTSD and PTSD symptom change in 217 patients with PTSD who were treated with cognitive therapy for PTSD (CT-PTSD) in routine clinical care. Bivariate latent change score models (LCSM) of session-by-session changes in self-report measures showed that changes in PTSD symptoms were preceded by changes in negative appraisals, flashback characteristics of unwanted memories, safety behaviours, and unhelpful responses to intrusions, but not vice versa. For changes in trauma memory disorganization and PTSD symptoms we found a bidirectional association. This study provides evidence that cognitive and behavioral processes proposed in theoretical models of PTSD play a key role in driving symptom improvement during CT-PTSD.

The Association Between Serum Uric Acid and Cognitive Function Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults Without Hyperuricemia: The Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms.

The association between serum uric acid (SUA) and cognitive function remains unclear, especially among individuals without hyperuricemia. We examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal bidirectional associations between SUA and cognition, as well as the mediating effect of depressive symptoms among Chinese adults. Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). SUA (continuous) and cognitive function (based on mental intactness and episodic memory) were measured at Wave 1 and Wave 3. Depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale) were assessed at Wave 1. Bivariate latent change score models and mediation analysis were used to investigate these possible associations. A total of 6 236 participants free of hyperuricemia (aged 58.3 ± 8.5 years) were included. After controlling for potential confounders, the SUA level was associated with cognition at baseline (standardized r = 0.042; p = .001). Higher baseline SUA level was associated with slower subsequent cognitive decline (standardized β = 0.026; p = .027), whereas baseline cognition was not significantly associated with subsequent change in SUA (standardized β = 0.003; p = .817). In mediation analysis, baseline SUA was indirectly associated with subsequent cognition via baseline depressive symptoms (mediation effect 13.3%; p < .001). Higher baseline SUA level is associated with better baseline cognition and less subsequent cognitive decline among Chinese adults without hyperuricemia. Baseline depressive symptoms may partially mediate the association between baseline SUA and later cognition. Continued research is warranted to verify these findings and elucidate the causality and underlying mechanisms.

A war on prejudice: The role of media salience in reducing ethnic prejudice.

Ethnic prejudice poses a great challenge to the cohesion of current multicultural societies. Prior research has found that media portrayals of immigration-related issues might skew individual attitudes and feelings toward ethnic minorities. While these studies have focused on negative representations of ethnic minorities, less is known about the effects of media reports of unfortunate events affecting the victims of war, as in the case of the Ukrainian group in the Russia-Ukraine war. Therefore, the current research aims to examine whether media salience of this situation might change adolescents' ethnic prejudice against the Ukrainian minority. A total of 1016 ethnic-majority Italian adolescents (Mage = 15.66, SDage = 1.17, 49.61% females) completed online questionnaires during school hours before (T1: January/February 2022) and after (T2: April/May 2022) the Russia-Ukraine war onset. Additionally, the media salience of the war was quantified separately for the national newspaper and Twitter. Levels of prejudice significantly decreased from T1 to T2 for multiple ethnic minority groups but especially so for the Ukrainian group. The results of bivariate Latent Change Score models highlighted that increased salience of the war in the national newspaper was significantly associated with decreased prejudice against Ukrainians, regardless of adolescents' levels of self-reported newspaper consumption. Conversely, changes in the salience of the war on Twitter were not associated with changes in prejudice. These findings highlight the importance of media attention for the war's victims in skewing individuals' outgroup perceptions and feelings.

Reciprocal relationships between self-control and self-authenticity: a two-wave study.

Both self-control and self-authenticity are critical to individuals' mental health and social adjustment, but their relationship has received little attention. Research demonstrates that exerting self-control could help individuals achieve true self and might be promoted by perceiving authenticity. Accordingly, this study utilized a longitudinal design and investigated the temporal relationship between self-control and self-authenticity in a large sample of 2,982 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 17.53, SD = 0.84). Correlation analysis showed that participants possessing higher self-control were associated with greater self-authenticity. Cross-lagged path analysis revealed a reciprocal relationship between self-control and self-authenticity over time. Moreover, bivariate latent change score model indicated that self-control predicted an increase in self-authenticity across time, and vice versa. Overall, this study advances our understanding and suggests that restraining temptation and impulse can promote adolescents' authenticity, and that the experience of authenticity, in turn, facilitates their self-regulation.

Puberty differentially predicts brain maturation in male and female youth: A longitudinal ABCD Study

Research has demonstrated associations between pubertal development and brain maturation. However, existing studies have been limited by small samples, cross-sectional designs, and inconclusive findings regarding directionality of effects and sex differences.We examined the longitudinal temporal coupling of puberty status assessed using the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based grey and white matter brain structure. Our sample consisted of 8896 children and adolescents at baseline (mean age = 9.9) and 6099 at follow-up (mean age = 11.9) from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study cohort.Applying multigroup Bivariate Latent Change Score (BLCS) models, we found that baseline PDS predicted the rate of change in cortical thickness among females and rate of change in cortical surface area for both males and females. We also found a correlation between baseline PDS and surface area and co-occurring changes over time in males. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analyses revealed correlated change between PDS and fractional anisotropy (FA) for both males and females, but no significant associations for mean diffusivity (MD).Our results suggest that pubertal status predicts cortical maturation, and that the strength of the associations differ between sex. Further research spanning the entire duration of puberty is needed to understand the extent and contribution of pubertal development on the youth brain.

Psychosocial stress affects the change of mental distress under dermatological treatment-A prospective cohort study in patients with psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic-inflammatory, immune-mediated disease leading to a state of increased systemic inflammation. Mental comorbidities often occur in the patients and may additionally affect the therapy outcome. Currently, it is unknown whether the disease severity, psychosocial stress or health-related quality of life determines the manifestation of anxiety/depression, or vice versa, in psoriasis. The interplay between these variables during the dermatological treatment of psoriasis remains to be elucidated in order to initiate appropriate psychological interventions and to identify patients at risk for comorbid anxiety/depression. In a prospective cohort study, the impact of disease severity, health-related quality of life and psychosocial stress on anxiety/depression were examined during the dermatological treatment in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis (patients with psoriasis=PSO). Patients were examined before (T1) and about 3months after (T2) the beginning of a new treatment episode, in most cases by means of systemic therapy. Data were analysed, exploratory, using Bivariate Latent Change Score Models and mediator analyses. Assessments included patient-reported outcomes (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale/HADS, Perceived Stress Scale/PSS, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire/CTQ, Dermatology Life Quality Index-DLQI, Body Surface Area-BSA), at both T1 and T2. 83 PSO patients (37.3% women, median age 53.7, IQR 37.8-62.5, median BSA 18.0, IQR 9.0-40.0) with complete data of HADS and DLQI were included. In the total group, a higher anxiety/depression at T1 was associated with a lower improvement in psoriasis severity in the course of the dermatological treatment (γBSA =0.50, p<0.001). In subgroups of PSO with low/high CTQ scores, anxiety/depression at T1 had no impact on the change in psoriasis severity. Only by tendency, in CTQ subgroups, a higher psoriasis severity at T1 was linked with a higher improvement in anxiety/depression at T2 (low/high CTQ, γHADS =-0.16/-0.15, p=0.08). An improvement in the health-related quality of life was positively associated with an improvement in anxiety/depression (Pearson's r=0.49, p=0.02). Here, the reduction of acute psychosocial stress seems to be a decisive factor, mediating this association (β=0.20, t [2,60]=1.87; p=0.07, 95% CI -0.01, 0.41). The results allude, that the initial severity of anxiety/depression may presumably have an impact on the treatment outcome in the total group. In contrast, analysing subgroups of patients with high/low childhood trauma, the impact of the initial disease severity on the course of anxiety/depression after a switch to a new dermatological treatment could not be conclusively ruled out. The latter results from the latent change score modelling should be treated cautiously because of the small sample size. A common aetiopathological mechanism for psoriasis and anxiety/depression might be assumed with impact of dermatological treatment on both. The change in perceived stress seems to play an important role in the manifestation of anxiety/depression, substantiating the need for adequate stress management in patients with increased psychosocial stress during their dermatological treatment.

The relationship between pre-surgery self-rated health and changes in functional and mental health in older adults: insights from a prospective observational study

BackgroundElective surgeries are among the most common health stressors in later life and put a significant risk at functional and mental health, making them an important target of research into healthy aging and physical resilience. Large-scale longitudinal research mostly conducted in non-clinical samples provided support of the predictive value of self-rated health (SRH) for both functional and mental health. Thus, SRH may have the potential to predict favorable adaptation processes after significant health stressors, that is, physical resilience. So far, a study examining the interplay between SRH, functional and mental health and their relative importance for health changes in the context of health stressors was missing. The present study aimed at addressing this gap.MethodsWe used prospective data of 1,580 inpatients (794 complete cases) aged 70 years or older of the PAWEL study, collected between October 2017 and May 2019 in Germany. Our analyses were based on SRH, functional health (Barthel Index) and self-reported mental health problems (PHQ-4) before and 12 months after major elective surgery. To examine changes and interrelationships in these health indicators, bivariate latent change score (BLCS) models were applied.ResultsOur analyses provided evidence for improvements of SRH, functional and mental health from pre-to-post surgery. BLCS models based on complete cases and the total sample pointed to a complex interplay of SRH, functional health and mental health with bidirectional coupling effects. Better pre-surgery SRH was associated with improvements in functional and mental health, and better pre-surgery functional health and mental health were associated with improvements in SRH from pre-to-post surgery. Effects of pre-surgery SRH on changes in functional health were smaller than those of functional health on changes in SRH.ConclusionsMeaningful changes of SRH, functional and mental health and their interplay could be depicted for the first time in a clinical setting. Our findings provide preliminary support for SRH as a physical resilience factor being associated with improvements in other health indicators after health stressors. Longitudinal studies with more timepoints are needed to fully understand the predictive value of SRH for multidimensional health.Trial registrationPAWEL study, German Clinical Trials Register, number DRKS00013311. Registered 10 November 2017 – Retrospectively registered, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00013311.

Predicting Older Adults' Continued Computer Use After Initial Adoption.

Sustained computer and internet use have the potential to help older adults in various aspects of their lives, making predicting sustained use a critical goal. However, some factors related to adoption and use (e.g., computer attitudes) change over time and with experience. To understand these dynamics, the current study modeled changes in constructs related to computer use after initial computer adoption and examined whether these changes predict continued use. We used data from the computer arm (N = 150, MAge = 76.15) of a 12-month field trial examining the potential benefits of computer use in older adults. Individual differences identified in the technology acceptance literature (perceived usefulness, ease of use, computer interest, computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety, quality of life, social isolation, and social support) were measured before (baseline), during (Month 6), and after the intervention (post-test). Univariate and bivariate latent change score models examined changes in each predictor and their potential causal relationship with use. Results demonstrated large interindividual differences in the change patterns of individual difference factors examined. Changes in perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, computer interest, computer self-efficacy, and computer anxiety were correlated with but not predictive of change in use. Our findings demonstrate the limitation of popular constructs in technology acceptance literature in predicting continued use and point out important gaps in knowledge to be targeted in future investigations.

The bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and functional limitations among centenarian survivors in their 80s: Testing bivariate latent change score models

Objectives The purpose of the study was to examine a bivariate latent change score model of depressive symptoms and functional limitations (activities of daily living) among centenarian or near-centenarian survivors over four waves using the Health and Retirement Study. Method Four hundred and sixty participants who eventually survived to age 98 or older were included by calculating their death age. Data from the time when the participants were in their 80s were analyzed. The mean age at baseline (1994) was 85.5 years. The observation interval was 2 years, from 1994 to 2000. Including age, gender, and education as a covariate, eight different models were conducted to examine the bivariate effects among depressive symptoms and functional limitations. Results Of the eight models, the bivariate model of depressive symptoms predicting change in functional limitations fitted the data best. The parameter estimates of the final model indicated significant predictive pathways from depressive symptoms to subsequent changes in depressive symptoms and functional limitations. Conclusion This study tested the bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and functional limitations among centenarian survivors in their 80s, which uncovered that depressive symptoms is a dominant variable among the two constructs. Our findings add to a lacking number of longitudinal studies with oldest old adults.

Effectiveness of the Deterministic and Stochastic Bivariate Latent Change Score Models for Longitudinal Research

The Bivariate Latent Change Score (BLCS) model is a popular framework for the study of dynamics in longitudinal research. Despite its popularity, there is little evidence of the ability of this model to recover latent dynamics when the latent trajectories are affected by stochastic innovations (i.e., dynamic error). The deterministic specification of the BLCS model does not account for the effect of these innovations in the system. In contrast, the stochastic specification of the BLCS model includes parameters that capture the effect of such innovations at the latent level. Through Monte Carlo simulation, we generated two developmental processes and examined the recovery of the parameters in the deterministic and stochastic BLCS models under a broad range of empirically relevant conditions. Based on our findings, we provide specific guidelines and recommendations for the application of BLCS models in developmental research.