Cross-lagged Structural Equation Models Research Articles

Mindful parenting, internalized and externalized problem behaviors among children: A latent cross-lagged model

ObjectiveThe current study aimed to investigate the cross-lagged relationships between mindful parenting and internalized problem behaviors (IPB) and externalized problem behaviors (EPB) using a longitudinal approach. MethodThis study enrolled 527 parents and children aged 9 to 13 (54 % female). Children were asked to complete IPB and EPB measurements, while parents were assessed on their level of mindful parenting at three different time points. ResultsWith the cross-lagged structural equation model, it indicated that EPB was significantly associated with the future decrease in IPB. However, IPB exhibited no significant predictive association with EPB five months later. Furthermore, based on the indirect correlations, a mediation model revealed that mindful parenting (T2) significantly mediated the relationship between IPB (T1) and IPB (T3), as well as the relationship between IPB (T1) and EPB (T3). ConclusionsThese findings suggested in Chinese children, a greater amount of EBP induces more IPB. Over a longer time scale, mindful parenting plays a crucial role in the longitudinal association between IBP and EBP, as well as in the longitudinal association between IBP and future IBP.

A Longitudinal Analysis of Mothers' Parenting Stress and Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior of Young Children on the Autism Spectrum.

We investigated longitudinal relations between internalizing, externalizing, and total behaviors that challenge in young children on the autism spectrum and mothers' parenting stress. Participants included 93 mothers of children on the autism spectrum aged 27.89-65.84months, who completed questionnaires on maternal parenting stress, and children's internalizing (anxiety), externalizing (disruptive), and total behaviors that challenge. Data were collected on early intervention program intake and approximately one year later. Cross-sectional findings indicated small to medium effect size associations between internalizing and externalizing behavior and parenting stress. However, cross-lagged structural equation models found that neither internalizing nor externalizing behavior predicted later parenting stress, nor the reverse. Significant stability effects were found for measures of child internalizing (anxiety), externalizing (disruptive), and total behaviors, and parenting stress. Relations between behaviors that challenge and parenting stress over time were non-significant in our models that controlled for stability of behaviors and parenting stress over time. Implications for research and clinical practice, in understanding and targeting the persistence of behaviors that challenge and parenting stress, are discussed.

Predictors of symptom trajectory in newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis: a 3-year follow-up cohort study.

Psychological symptoms are associated with poorer ulcerative colitis (UC)-related outcomes. However, the majority of research is cross-sectional. We aimed to identify subgroups based on the longitudinal evolution of GI symptom levels and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and to disentangle the directionality of effects between GI symptom levels and psychological distress. Self-reported GI symptom severity, HRQoL, inflammatory biomarkers and psychological distress were assessed in 98 newly diagnosed UC patients at disease onset and yearly for 3 consecutive years. Latent class growth analysis was used to determine subgroups based on longitudinal trajectories of symptom severity and HRQoL, and baseline predictors of trajectory group membership were determined. Cross-lagged structural equation models were used to disentangle temporal relationships between psychological functioning and symptom severity. Patients with higher initial psychological distress had increased probability of maintaining higher levels of diarrhea and abdominal pain. Conversely, patients with lower initial levels of diarrhea and abdominal pain had higher chances of maintaining lower levels of psychological distress. Higher levels of C-reactive protein at baseline predicted greater improvements in mental health after anti-inflammatory treatment. Reductions in diarrhea and abdominal pain preceded reductions in psychological symptoms over time. Baseline psychological distress is predictive of increased GI symptom severity and reduced mental HRQoL over time, suggesting early assessment of psychological symptoms may identify patients who may have worse disease trajectories. Abdominal pain predicted increased psychological distress, but not the other way around. Intervening on abdominal pain may help prevent or reduce future psychological distress.

CEO compensation and innovation premium

ABSTRACT The innovation premium of a firm is the excess market value over the shareholder expectation per a unit change in the capital stock. Using fixed effects models and cross-lagged structural equation models that address reverse causality and unobserved firm heterogeneity, we find that an increase in the innovation premium increases CEO compensation, consistent with the notion that innovation premium is shared between shareholders and managers. However, an increase in CEO compensation increases innovation premium when environmental uncertainty or firm innovativeness is high, indicating that an increase in environmental uncertainty or firm innovativeness makes the firm’s growth options more valuable, and CEOs exercise the growth options and seize the valuable growth opportunities that provide the firm the innovation premium. Our results are consistent with the managerial rent model in that the source of the innovation premium is the uncertainty associated with the innovative opportunities, which enhances the value of the firm’s growth options.

Interplay Among Self-Regulation Processes Over Time for Adolescents in the Context of Chronic Stress

ABSTRACT Developmental changes in self-regulation are theorized to underlie adolescents’ engagement in risky behaviors, physical health, mental health, and transition to adulthood. Two central processes involved in self-regulation, self-management (i.e. planning, concentration, and problem-solving) and disinhibition (e.g. distractibility and impulsivity) appear to develop asynchronously and may be differentially activated based on contextual factors. Using a sample identified based on exposure to chronic stressors, we investigated how changes in self-management and disinhibition affect each other over time and whether these changes occur differently for boys and girls. Youth aged 8–16 (N = 708) who attended a U.S. summer camp self-reported on components of disinhibition and self-management. Cross-lagged structural equation modeling revealed a reciprocal relationship between self-management and disinhibition, with anger coping and distractibility emerging as critical factors in shaping this relationship. Changes in concentration, planning, and problem-solving were components of self-management that drove subsequent changes in boys’ disinhibition (for girls, however, planning did not). Autocorrelations for both broad processes remained strong from year to year, indicating a high degree of stability in rank order despite the myriad of physical, cognitive and socioemotional changes that occur during adolescence. We discuss implications of the reciprocal model with a focus on the relative pliability of components from each process and strategies for shaping them. Planning, concentration and distractibility are highlighted as potential targets for intervention.

How perceived polarization predicts attitude moralization (and vice versa): A four-wave longitudinal study during the 2020 U.S. election.

Within structurally polarized and dynamic contexts, such as the U.S. 2020 presidential elections, the moralization of individuals' attitudes on a specific topic (e.g., climate policy) can dangerously escalate disagreements between groups into zero-sum conflict. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the factors that influence individuals' tendency to moralize their attitudes over time, and what the role of structural polarization is in this psychological process. Our objective is to test a theoretically integrative model of when and how perceived polarization is related to attitude moralization over time within the polarized context of the U.S. 2020 presidential elections and explore reciprocal feedback loops to understand the dynamic relationship between polarization and moralization over time. Our model predicts that, when repeatedly faced with outgroup expressions in the news, individuals' perceptions of polarization will predict within-person attitude moralization over time via strengthening their value-protective responses to these expressions (i.e., perceiving dyadic harm and experiencing negative moral emotions toward the outgroup). To test our model, we conducted a four-wave, 4-month longitudinal study among Biden supporters (N = 1,236) and Trump supporters (N = 617). The results of the within-person analyses generally supported the model's hypotheses across both samples and various attitude topics. Furthermore, cross-lagged structural equation models explored reciprocal influences, revealing positive feedback loops between structural polarization and attitude moralization over time. Our findings thus indicate that perceived polarization strengthens attitude moralization (and vice versa) over time-a dynamic process that helps to explain how nonmoralized conflict between groups can evolve into zero-sum conflict during periods of intense polarization. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

장애노인의 연령대별 자존감과 삶의 만족의 상호인과적 관계

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the reciprocal causal relationship between self-esteem and life satisfaction among elderly with disabilities aged 60 and above, as well as to investigate the age-related differences in the latent means of self-esteem and life satisfaction.
 Method: Using data from the 16th (2021) and 17th (2022) waves of the Korean Welfare Panel Study, the data of 841 disabled elderly who took part in both surveys were analyzed for self-esteem and life satisfaction, and the latent mean of each age group was compared. To explore the reciprocal causal relationship between self-esteem and life satisfaction among elderly individuals with disabilities by age group, an autoregressive cross-lagged structural equation model was analyzed. 
 Results: First, a reciprocal causal relationship was observed between the self-esteem and life satisfaction of disabled elderly individuals. Second, there were no significant differences in the reciprocal causal relationship between self-esteem and life satisfaction among disabled individuals across different age groups. Third, there were no significant differences in the latent means of self-esteem and life satisfaction among different age groups of disabled elderly.
 Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, suggestions aimed at enhancing the self-esteem and life satisfaction of elderly with disabilities are made.

Longitudinal relationships between grit, self-esteem, and academic achievement among Korean primary school students

In a competition-driven meritocratic learning environment, academic achievement can have a direct effect on self-esteem and self-concept. As such, academic achievement can act as an antecedent to grit and self-esteem. This study examined the longitudinal reciprocal relationships of academic achievement, consistency of interest (CI), perseverance of effort (PE), and self-esteem among fourth-grade and fifth-grade primary school students in South Korea, who were under heavy pressure in a performance-oriented learning environment. Data pertaining to 2,240 students were extracted from the 2018 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute, and cross-lagged structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the longitudinal relationship between three variables. The results revealed that academic achievement had a statistically significant positive relationship with CI, PE, and self-esteem; CI had a statistically significant positive relationship with PE; and PE had a statistically significant positive relationship with self-esteem through the mediation of academic achievement. In addition, self-esteem demonstrated the highest level of stability, and although CI and PE demonstrated similar levels of stability, CI displayed slightly greater stability compared to PE. Findings from this study suggest the need to support grit and self-esteem among Korean students under pressure in performance-oriented academic environments.

A longitudinal model of sleep problems and classroom self-regulation across elementary school

This study explored longitudinal and bidirectional associations among behavioral sleep problems and self-regulation difficulties across the elementary school years. Analyses drew data from the Kindergarten Cohort (N = 4983) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) across five data waves, when children were aged 4–13 years (49% female, 86% English-speaking). Cross-lagged structural equation models revealed significant bidirectional associations, with greater sleep problems consistently predicting classroom self-regulation two years later, while poorer self-regulation predicted later sleep problems only at certain time points. Greater behavioral sleep problems were associated with poorer post-elementary achievement and social-emotional wellbeing, while stronger classroom self-regulation skills supported more positive outcomes in these constructs. Findings indicate strong developmental associations among sleep problems and dysregulation.

Poor Subjective Sleep Quality Predicts Symptoms in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Using the Experience Sampling Method.

Sleep quality may affect symptom experience in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Our aim was to investigate the relationship between sleep quality and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms using actigraphy and the experience sampling method. Patients with IBS were recruited from a tertiary Neurogastroenterology clinic and the community. GI symptoms and mood were recorded on a smartphone application, 10 times per day, over 7 consecutive days. Subjective sleep quality was recorded every morning to reflect the night before. Objective measures of sleep quality were estimated from wrist-worn actigraphy. Cross-lagged structural equation models were built to assess the directionality of sleep-symptom relationships over time. Eighty patients with IBS completed the study (mean age: 37 years [range 20-68], 89% female, 78% community). Approximately 66% had a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score ≥ 8, indicating a clinically significant sleep disturbance. Approximately 82% (95% CI: 72-90) screened positive for a sleep disorder, most commonly insomnia. In cross-lagged analysis, poor subjective sleep quality predicted next-day abdominal pain (0.036 < P < 0.040) and lower GI symptoms (0.030 < P < 0.032), but not vice versa. No significant relationship with GI symptoms was found for any objective sleep measure using actigraphy. Poor subjective sleep quality was associated with higher next-day lower GI symptom levels, but not vice versa. Objective sleep measures did not predict next-day abdominal symptoms, potentially supporting the conclusion that it is the perception of sleep quality that is most influential. This study may be used to guide future research into the effect of sleep interventions on GI symptoms.

We Cannot Ignore the Signs: The Development of Equivalence and Arithmetic for Students from Grades 3 to 4

ABSTRACT Students' understanding of the meaning of the equal sign develops slowly over the primary grades. In addition to updating their representations of equations to recognize that the equal sign represents an equivalence relation rather than signaling an operation, students need to move beyond full computation to efficiently solve equivalence problems. In this study, we examined the longitudinal relation between arithmetic and equivalence for students who were capable of accurately solving arithmetic problems in different formats. Chinese students (N = 612; M age = 9.0 years in Grade 3, 57% boys) completed measures of arithmetic fluency and equivalence fluency in Grade 3 and again in Grade 4. They also completed a non-verbal reasoning task in Grade 3. We tested a cross-lagged structural equation model to examine the reciprocal relations between arithmetic and equivalence fluency. We found reciprocal relations between the development of arithmetic and equivalence fluency from Grades 3 to 4, with a greater influence of arithmetic on the development of equivalence than the reverse. Furthermore, non-verbal reasoning predicted the development of equivalence, but not the development of arithmetic. Based on our findings, we conclude that for Chinese students with prior basic understanding of equivalence, flexible access to arithmetic facts supports their development of equivalence fluency.

The effect of hearing impairment and social participation on depressive symptoms in older adults: a cross-lagged analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hearing impairment, depressive symptoms, and social participation in older adults. The study used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2013 and 2018, which included 3,980 samples. The analysis was conducted using cross-lagged structural equation modeling with SPSS 23.0 and Mplus 7.4. The findings show that from 2013 to 2018, older people had significantly more hearing impairment and depressive symptoms and significantly less social participation. Hearing impairment was a significant negative predictor of social participation, and older adults with hearing impairment were less likely to participate in social activities. In addition, there may be a bidirectional relationship between hearing impairment and depressive symptoms, with both being positive predictors of each other. Finally, the study found that social participation played an important mediating role in the relationship between hearing impairment and depressive symptoms. The study's findings highlight the complex interplay between hearing impairment, social participation, and depressive symptoms in older adults. Therefore, it is important to intervene promptly when hearing impairment is detected in the elderly; pay attention to patient guidance and comfort for the elderly with hearing impairment, give them positive psychological support, encourage them to get out of the house and participate in more social activities to avoid depressive symptoms. The study's results may inform the development of targeted interventions to address the mental health needs of older adults with hearing impairment.

Bi-directional associations between physical activity and growth indicators of pre-school aged children.

Physical activity for young children provides a wealth of benefits for health and development. However, little is known about the inter-relationship of physical activity and growth indicators. The aim of this study was to test the bi-directional associations of physical activity and growth indicators in children under five years of age. This prospective study included 1,575 children with data on physical activity and growth indicators at ages 12, 24 and 48 months. Accelerometers were used to measure physical activity. Z-scores for length/height-for-age, weight-for-length/height, weight-for-age and body mass index (BMI)-for-age were calculated. Bi-directional associations between physical activity and growth indicators were evaluated using cross-lagged panels based on Generalized Estimating Equations and cross-lagged structural equation models. Physical activity was consistently associated with lower weight-related growth indicators: BMI-for-age: β=-0.12; Weight-for-age: β=-0.11; Weight-for-length/height: β=-0.12. Higher BMI-for-age indicated lower physical activity (β=-0.06). When the exposure was lagged, the association of physical activity on weight-related growth indicators remained, but weight-related growth indicators showed a negative association on physical activity. A bi-directional association between physical activity and weight-related growth indicators was observed. The magnitude of associations were stronger when physical activity was modelled as exposure. These results reinforce the importance of physical activity since early years.

What happens to others will happen to me! Examining the cross-lagged relationship between perceived overall justice and job insecurity

PurposeConsidering the adverse outcomes that job insecurity might have on employees and organizations (De Witte et al., 2016), this study aims to test the role of perceived justice in preventing job insecurity from occurring. Relying on social information processing theory (Salancik and Pfeffer, 1978) and fairness heuristic theory (Lind, 2001), the authors analyze both an assessment of the extent to which the person is treated fairly by the organization (i.e. self-focused justice) and an individual's evaluation of the extent to which the person's co-workers are treated fairly (i.e. other-focused justice). The authors expect other-focused and self-focused justice to be negatively related to job insecurity.Design/methodology/approachThe hypotheses were tested using cross-lagged structural equation modelling based on two-wave data from 126 employees working in a public sector organization undergoing structural changes.FindingsThe study results revealed that other-focused overall justice but not self-focused overall justice predicted lower job insecurity one year later. Moreover, other-focused overall justice did have a cross-lagged effect on self-focused overall justice.Originality/valueBy investigating the relationship between other- and self-focused overall justice and job insecurity over time, this study provides solid evidence into so far neglected longitudinal relationships between justice and insecurity. The results show that in the context of organizational changes, other-focused overall justice predicted lower job insecurity as well as higher self-focused overall justice one year later.

Identity Formation and General and Cancer-specific Functioning in Adolescent and Emerging Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Longitudinal Study into Directionality of Effects.

Adolescent and emerging adult survivors of childhood cancer generally adjust well psychologically similar to their peers. Nevertheless, some survivors are at greater risk for developing psychological and physical difficulties. To shed light on the psychosocial functioning of adolescent and emerging adult survivors of childhood cancer, personal identity formation and its interplay with general and cancer-specific functioning need to be investigated. To examine the longitudinal associations linking identity formation to general and cancer-specific functioning in adolescent and emerging adult childhood cancer survivors using three-wave data over a 2-year period. Dutch-speaking survivors (at baseline: n = 125; 53% female; age range: 14-25 years) treated at the pediatric oncology department of the University Hospitals Leuven (Belgium), completed self-report questionnaires at three annual timepoints. Directionality of effects and correlated changes were examined using cross-lagged structural equation modeling. Regarding general functioning, bidirectional effects occurred. Life satisfaction positively predicted identity synthesis and both life satisfaction and good physical functioning negatively predicted identity confusion over time. Identity synthesis, in turn, positively predicted life satisfaction and identity confusion negatively predicted good physical functioning over time. Regarding cancer-specific functioning, mainly unidirectional effects occurred. Post-traumatic stress symptoms negatively predicted identity synthesis and positively predicted identity confusion over time, whereas the reverse pattern of associations was found for benefit finding. Several correlated changes were found linking identity formation and psychosocial functioning as well. The present study uncovered clinically meaningful pathways linking identity formation to psychosocial functioning over time in adolescents and emerging adults who survived childhood cancer.

Fear of positive evaluation differentially predicts social anxiety: a six-month longitudinal panel study.

This study investigated whether (a) fear of negative evaluation (FNE) and fear of positive evaluation (FPE) prospectively predict the other, (b) FPE predicts social anxiety controlling for FNE, and (c) FPE predicts social anxiety symptoms but not general anxiety and depression. Data were collected from a student sample at two time points over six months. The cross-lagged structural equation modeling results revealed that FNE and FPE do not prospectively predict the other, FPE positively predicts social anxiety symptoms controlling for FNE, and FPE does not significantly predict general anxiety or depression. These results confirmed that FNE and FPE are distinctively related to social anxiety. Moreover, the study findings indicated that FPE may be a factor unique to social anxiety.

Maternal mental health and the behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder: Unidirectional and bidirectional effects

BackgroundWhile transactional theories of development posit that child and parent functioning are reciprocally linked, few autism family studies have examined if and how differing domains of child behavior and parental mental health may mutually affect one another over time. MethodData was collected over three time-points spanning four years from a sample of 119 mothers of children with ASD (aged 7–11 years at baseline). Cross-lagged structural equation models tested whether child problem or prosocial behavior was reciprocally related to three domains of maternal mental health: depressed mood, anger, and positive emotional well-being. ResultsFindings provided mixed support for bidirectionality as reciprocal relationships were found only in models examining relations between maternal depressed mood and child problem and prosocial behavior. Apart from these two bidirectional relationships, all other significant cross-lagged effects were unidirectional and parent-driven, with prior levels of maternal mental health impacting later child behavior rather than the reverse. ConclusionStudy results add to the limited evidence base concerning directionality of parent-child effects in autism family research. Given the intertwined nature of child and maternal functioning found in this study, there is clearly a need for additional family-based interventions that target both parents and their autistic children.

A developmental cascade model of adolescent peer relationships, substance use, and psychopathological symptoms from child maltreatment

IntroductionAlthough previous studies have demonstrated high intercorrelations among deviant peer affiliation, substance use, externalizing and internalizing symptoms in adolescence, these studies have been limited because they did not examine 1) the associations over time by assuming one particular sequence; and 2) child maltreatment effects. MethodsThis study included 617 adolescents (54.3 % girls, 55.6 % Black) at-risk of maltreatment living in the U.S and primarily low-income. Deviant peer affiliation was assessed at ages 12, 14, and 16 using 13 items from the modified version of the Youth Risk Behavior and Monitoring the Future Survey. Externalizing and internalizing symptoms were measured at ages 12, 14, and 16 using the Child Behavior Checklist. The number of substances used (ages 12, 14, 16, and 18) were created by summing the self-reported alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. Each type of maltreatment (birth to age 12) was assessed using the self-report. ResultsAutoregressive cross-lagged structural equation modeling explained the stability effects within each domain, as well as how different maltreatment types affect diverse developmental processes. Cross-lagged results showed the socialization effects of peers on substance use, whereas the peer selection effects on externalizing symptoms. Physical abuse was only associated with externalizing symptoms, while sexual abuse was associated with both externalizing and internalizing symptoms. Additionally, emotional abuse was associated with deviant peer affiliation and substance use. ConclusionsIdentifying the underlying reciprocal processes offers a deeper understanding of peer relationships in the substance use and externalizing symptoms among at-risk of maltreatment sample.

Longitudinal Associations Between Loneliness and Self-Rated Health Among Black and White Older Adults.

This study examined the longitudinal association between loneliness and self-rated health (SRH), and whether there were race differences between non-Hispanic Black and White adults in these associations. A total of 1,407 participants were drawn Social Relations Study, a regional study of social relations across the life span with 3 waves of data collection in 1992, 2005, and 2015 (Wave 1, W1: Mage=50.28, 28% Black, 59% women). Cross-lagged structural equation models examined the association between loneliness and SRH over 3 waves. We adjusted for baseline age, gender, social network size, and depressive symptoms. There were no race differences in loneliness at any wave. Loneliness W1 was associated with Loneliness W2; Loneliness W2 was associated with Loneliness W3. We had similar findings for associations among SRH. However, only one of the cross-lagged paths was significant. Worse SRH W2 was associated with more Loneliness W3. The only path that varied across race was in the association between SRH W2 and Loneliness W3, and this path was significant only in Whites. Findings indicate that worse SRH at later midlife may increase risk for loneliness in later life, particularly for Whites. As a valid indicator of health, SRH can be used in the body of research on health correlates of loneliness as adults age. Use of the current sample of Black and White adults provides nuanced understanding in the ways in which racially diverse adults experience loneliness and should be useful in refining and developing culturally competent interventions for older adults.

The relationship between sleep disturbance and self-harming behaviours in high-risk clinical adolescents

Emerging research has identified sleep disturbance as an important risk factor for predicting self-harming behaviours. However, the temporality of this relationship, particularly in clinical adolescent samples remains poorly understood. This study examines the relationship between sleep disturbance and self-harming behaviours (namely nonsuicidal self-injury and suicide attempts) in clinical adolescents engaging in risk-taking and self-harming behaviours using secondary analyses from a clinical cohort study. Cross-lagged structural equation modelling was used to determine whether baseline sleep disturbance and self-harming behaviours were predictors of each other over a one-year follow-up period in a sample of adolescents (n = 238, 89.5% female) attending and receiving treatment from an outpatient clinic specializing in risk-taking and self-harming behaviours. When controlling for age, sex and depressive symptoms, greater sleep disturbance (p = 0.001) at baseline independently predicted higher numbers of suicide attempts at follow-up. No bidirectional relationship was found when sleep disturbance was modelled with the frequency of nonsuicidal self-injury. This study adds to the growing evidence that sleep disturbance may predict suicidal behaviours. Clinicians should thus regularly assess for sleep disturbances when evaluating suicidal behaviours in high-risk adolescents. Further research and clinical trials should investigate whether sleep-based interventions may be efficacious in reducing the prevalence of suicidal behaviours.