Growth Curve Models Research Articles

Reducing uncertainty in the work-nonwork interface during COVID-19: an examination of trends in information seeking behaviors

ABSTRACT The current study examined trends in information seeking on the work-nonwork interface in relation to two events: the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the passing of emergency paid leave in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). We hypothesized that individuals would be motivated to reduce pandemic-driven uncertainty, such that information seeking peaks at these two events. We used discontinuous growth curve models to test these hypotheses with 51 weeks of web search data from December 2019 to December 2020, representing billions of web searches. Results showed that information seeking behavior on work-nonwork balance, flexible work arrangements, family and medical leave, and childcare peaked around at least one of the two events. This study demonstrates how organizations and researchers can use web searches to study information seeking behavior.

Executive functioning as a prospective moderator of the relations between maltreatment in childhood and externalizing symptoms and wellbeing from adolescence to young adulthood.

Although childhood maltreatment is associated with externalizing symptoms, not all individuals with these experiences develop externalizing behaviors and some exhibit positive adjustment. To address this multifinality, we used latent growth curve modeling to identify trajectories of (a) externalizing symptoms and (b) subjective wellbeing from late adolescence through young adulthood, determine whether types of childhood maltreatment and domains of executive functioning (EF) are associated with initial levels and growth (slopes) of externalizing symptoms or subjective wellbeing, and investigate whether EF moderates these relations. Participants were youth recruited at ages 10-12 (N = 775; 69% male, 31% female; 76% White, 21% Black/African American, 3% multiracial). We examined EF at ages 10-12, childhood maltreatment reported retrospectively at age 25, and externalizing symptoms and subjective wellbeing at multiple points between ages 16 and 28. Experience of childhood maltreatment and certain EF domains were associated with externalizing symptoms and subjective wellbeing at age 16. EF domains were associated with rate of change in externalizing problems, though not in expected directions. EF variables moderated the relation between maltreatment and initial levels of both outcomes and change in externalizing symptoms. Findings have implications for intervention efforts to mitigate externalizing problems and bolster positive adjustment.

Secondary Traumatic Stress in Medical Students During Clinical Clerkships.

Health care workers exposed to traumatic events while working with patients are at risk for secondary traumatic stress (STS). Data on this phenomenon in medical students are limited. This prospective study examines the trajectory and prevalence of STS among medical students at clerkship year end. The study at The University of Colorado School of Medicine was conducted in 2 phases: the first evaluated STS across multiple time points in a single year (n = 187); the second assessed STS prevalence at the end of the clerkship year in 3 separate cohorts (2020-2023) (n = 496). The study used a validated Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS). Multilevel growth curve modeling was used to explore the change trajectory of STSS scores across the clerkship year after controlling for covariates. In phase 1, the quadratic trend coefficient was negative (-1.56), indicating a predicted trajectory in STSS total scores that started lower at clerkship year start, reached an apex during the year, and decreased by clerkship year end (P < .001). The intercept (32.73) and linear (5.17) coefficient estimates together (37.90) predicted a total score increase indicating mild STS to a total score at the cutoff for moderate STS between July and October (P < .001). The only statistically significant covariate was reporting an influential psychiatric condition (4.86, P < .001). Phase 2 revealed an end-of-year prevalence of moderate to severe STS of 35.7%, stable across all 3 cohorts. In phase 2, STS categories were significantly different for those reporting a psychiatric condition (P = .007). Medical student STS symptoms increase during clerkship year and do not return to baseline for many students by the year's end. More research is warranted to understand risk and protective factors for STS, strategies to mitigate symptom development, and how much of the observed STS is attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Childhood trauma is associated with developmental trajectories of EEG coherence, alcohol-related outcomes, and PTSD symptoms.

Associations between childhood trauma, neurodevelopment, alcohol use disorder (AUD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are understudied during adolescence. Using 1652 participants (51.75% female, baseline Mage = 14.3) from the Collaborative Study of the Genetics of Alcoholism, we employed latent growth curve models to (1) examine associations of childhood physical, sexual, and non-assaultive trauma (CPAT, CSAT, and CNAT) with repeated measures of alpha band EEG coherence (EEGc), and (2) assess whether EEGc trajectories were associated with AUD and PTSD symptoms. Sex-specific models accommodated sex differences in trauma exposure, AUD prevalence, and neural development. In females, CSAT was associated with higher mean levels of EEGc in left frontocentral (LFC, ß = 0.13, p = 0.01) and interhemispheric prefrontal (PFI, ß = 0.16, p < 0.01) regions, but diminished growth in LFC (ß = -0.07, p = 0.02) and PFI (ß = -0.07, p = 0.02). In males, CPAT was associated with lower mean levels (ß = -0.17, p = 0.01) and increased growth (ß = 0.11, p = 0.01) of LFC EEGc. Slope of LFC EEGc was inversely associated with AUD symptoms in females (ß = -1.81, p = 0.01). Intercept of right frontocentral and PFI EEGc were associated with AUD symptoms in males, but in opposite directions. Significant associations between EEGc and PTSD symptoms were also observed in trauma-exposed individuals. Childhood assaultive trauma is associated with changes in frontal alpha EEGc and subsequent AUD and PTSD symptoms, though patterns differ by sex and trauma type. EEGc findings may inform emerging treatments for PTSD and AUD.

Patterns of sub-optimal change following CBT for childhood anxiety.

Children and adolescents demonstrate diverse patterns of symptom change and disorder remission following cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders. To better understand children who respond sub-optimally to CBT, this study investigated youths (N = 1,483) who continued to meet criteria for one or more clinical anxiety diagnosis immediately following treatment or at any point during the 12 months following treatment. Data were collected from 10 clinical sites with assessments at pre-and post-treatment and at least once more at 3, 6 or 12-month follow-up. Participants were assigned to one of three groups based on diagnostic status for youths who: (a) retained an anxiety diagnosis from post to end point (minimal responders); (b) remitted anxiety diagnoses at post but relapsed by end point (relapsed responders); and (c) retained a diagnosis at post but remitted to be diagnosis free at end point (delayed responders). Growth curve models assessed patterns of change over time for the three groups and examined predictors associated with these patterns including demographic, clinical and parental factors, as well as treatment factors. Higher primary disorder severity, being older, having a greater number of anxiety disorders, having social anxiety disorder, as well as higher maternal psychopathology differentiated the minimal responders from the delayed and relapsed responders at the baseline. Results from the growth curve models showed that severity of the primary disorder and treatment modality differentiated patterns of linear change only. Higher severity was associated with significantly less improvement over time for the minimal and relapsed response groups, as was receiving group CBT, when compared to the delayed response group. Sub-optimal response patterns can be partially differentiated using variables assessed at pre-treatment. Increased understanding of different patterns of change following treatment may provide direction for clinical decision-making and for tailoring treatments to specific groups of clinically anxious youth. Future research may benefit from assessing progress during treatment to detect emerging response patterns earlier.

Development of students’ subject interest at university: analysis of students’ predictors and lecturers’ attitudes towards the characteristics of a successful university

Longitudinal research on students’ interest in higher education showed that interest declines throughout the study program. While researchers reported numerous factors explaining interest on the student level, research on the relationship between the lecturer level and students’ interest development is considered scarce. This study aimed to analyze the relationships between lecturer level, such as attitudes toward academic success, and at the student level, such as gender, on students’ development of subject interest. To achieve this, two datasets were merged and analyzed: one from a panel study of annual assessments comprising 12,116 measurement points from 5491 cooperative students in Germany, and the other from a survey of the students’ lecturers from 22 different departments, using three-level growth curve modeling. The results showed a decline in subject interest over the study program and showed that academic discipline and gender explained the development of subject interest. However, lecturers’ attitude to academic success was not related to their students’ development of subject interest. These findings confirmed the importance of developing interest programs for students to keep interest high.

Earnings development among new immigrants in Finland: does a native-born partner enhance economic integration?

Abstract Many studies have analysed the role of individual characteristics on the labour market outcomes of immigrants. However, there is only limited evidence on how an immigrant’s partnership status and intermarriage with a native-born person are associated with earnings development. Partnerships in general can be considered a proxy for social capital, productivity, and characteristics valued in the labour market. A partnership with a native person is also indicative of sociocultural resources, accomplished integration, and an intention to remain in the country as well as a possible reason for migration. Our study contributes to understanding the link between intermarriage and earnings with evidence from a Nordic perspective and based on unique register data spanning from 2004 to 2018. We employ growth curve models and analyse earnings and employment development in the years following entry to Finland among seven different immigrant groups and separately for men and women. The results demonstrate that the role of having a native-born partner varies according to the country of origin and gender. In general, those with a native-born partner upon arrival in Finland have a more positive earnings development over time. Long observation period is necessary to reveal ineteresting differences between groups.

Urban and Rural Differences in the Efficacy of a Mobile Health Depression Treatment for Young Adults

Depression among young adults represents a growing health problem in the U.S., but access to effective treatment remains a challenge. Mobile health (mHealth) approaches promise to deliver accessible and effective depression treatment; however, questions remain regarding how mHealth depression treatment efficacy may vary geographically based on urban and rural environmental contexts. The present study addresses this knowledge gap by leveraging data from a randomized clinical trial of an mHealth depression treatment called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-text (CBT-txt) as applied to a sample of 103 U.S. young adults (ages 18–25). Prior research has demonstrated the efficacy of CBT-txt to reduce depressive symptoms. In the present study, we conduct an exploratory, post hoc analysis employing moderated growth curve modeling to investigate whether observed treatment efficacy differed between study participants residing in rural versus urban areas. The findings indicate that CBT-txt treatment effects in terms of reducing depression symptoms were significantly stronger for young adults residing in rural, as compared to urban, regions (β = 13.759, 95% CI = 0.796, 26.723, p &lt; 0.038). We speculate that this is because of the lack of mental healthcare resources in rural, as compared to urban areas, as well as the greater level of environmental stressors, such as artificial light and noise, found in cities, which may mitigate treatment effects.

Caregivers' physiological responses during toddler vaccinations: associations with psychological and behavioral responses.

This study investigated biological, psychological, and behavioral aspects of caregivers' responses to toddlers' pain-related distress by measuring caregivers' high-frequency heart rate variability (HRV) responses during toddler vaccination pain and examining associations with caregivers' behavioral responses and psychological stress. Participants included caregiver-toddler dyads (N = 194) from a longitudinal cohort-sequential study who were observed during toddlers' 12-, 18-, or 24-month routine vaccinations. Changes in caregiver HRV were analyzed using growth curve modeling. Conditional growth curve models examined associations between caregiver HRV and caregivers' concurrent behavior and psychological stress. The unconditional growth curve model indicated a slight linear decrease in caregiver HRV (i.e., vagal withdrawal) across the 3 min post-needle (unstandardized B = -0.06, p = .049). In conditional growth curve models, higher levels of parenting stress were associated with less vagal withdrawal during the post-needle period (standardized B = 0.47, unstandardized B = 0.02, p = .003). Caregivers' behavioral responses (i.e., use of soothing and distress-promoting behaviors), state anxiety, and general anxiety symptomology were not significantly associated with HRV responses. Caregiver parasympathetic nervous system activity levels changed minimally from baseline to post-needle and decreased slightly across the post-needle period. Caregivers' self-reported parenting stress was associated with their parasympathetic responses to the procedure. Findings support an improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying caregivers' responses to children's pain-related distress in a naturalistic setting.

Developmental trajectories of children’s radical awareness and Chinese character recognition in the early elementary grades and their influential factors: based on parallel process latent growth curve model

Developmental trajectories of children’s radical awareness and Chinese character recognition in the early elementary grades and their influential factors: based on parallel process latent growth curve model

A retrospective two-center cohort study of the bidirectional relationship between depression and tinnitus-related distress

BackgroundTinnitus can cause considerable psychological distress among patients, particularly if comorbidities occur. Despite a strong relationship between tinnitus-related distress and depression, the underlying mechanisms represent a long-standing question. By investigating the co-development of tinnitus-related distress and depressiveness throughout therapy, we capture the dynamic interplay of both conditions and uncover underlying common features mediating their link.MethodsLarge datasets from two different day clinics in Germany have been analyzed using a regularization method for predictor selection (analysis 1) and latent growth curve modeling (LCM; analysis 2). Tinnitus-related distress was assessed using the Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ). All patients have been experiencing chronic subjective tinnitus with a minimum mean severity level of TQ grade 2. Treatment at both day clinics involved tinnitus management according to clinical guidelines with minor idiosyncratic differences. Analysis 1 was performed on a dataset of 500 patients who received the Jena Interdisciplinary Treatment for Tinnitus (JITT) for 5 consecutive days between 2013 and 2017. Analysis 2 was performed on a second dataset, which included 1016 patients treated at the Tinnitus Center of the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin for 7 days between 2011 and 2015.ResultsHere, we show a substantial bidirectional relationship between tinnitus-related distress and depression severity while emphasizing the role of somatic symptoms and perceived stress in the experience and maintenance of tinnitus awareness. The LCM provides adequate model fit (CFI = 0.993, SRMR = 0.016).ConclusionsOur results indicate enhanced therapy success in depression when tinnitus-related distress is addressed and vice versa. The combined treatment of tinnitus and depression is proposed for future treatment strategies.

Social Isolation and Depressive Symptoms of Older Chinese Immigrants: The Mediating Effect of Activity Engagement.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the differential impacts of two forms of social isolation on depressive symptoms and investigate the mediating role of activity engagement among older Chinese immigrants. Methods: Data were from four waves of the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago Study (PINE) (N = 2,075). Social disconnectedness was measured by social network size and range, living arrangement, and marital status. Perceived isolation was measured by loneliness and lack of social support. Activity engagement was assessed by engagement with various social and cognitive activities. Results: The latent growth curve models indicated that social disconnectedness and perceived isolation were associated with a higher initial level of depressive symptoms. However, perceived isolation predicted a faster decline in depressive symptoms. Activity engagement had significant mediating effects on the relationships. Discussion: Efforts should focus on reducing social isolation and providing opportunities for activity engagement to mitigate depression among older Chinese immigrants.

Value incoherence precedes value change: Evidence from value development in childhood and adolescence across cultures

We test the theory that personality incoherence may instigate personality change in the context of personal values. Values’ near-universal organization makes value incoherence assessment straightforward. The study included 13 longitudinal samples from seven cultures (Australia, Israel Palestinian citizens, Israel Jewish majority, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Switzerland), total N = 7,126, and T1 M age ranging between 6 and 18. Each participant reported values between two- and six-times. Using unfolding analysis, we calculated the fit of the internal value structure of each participant at the first time point to the value structure in their sample (normative structure) and to the theoretical structure of values. We estimated value change using Growth Curve Modeling (when at least three measurement times were available) and the difference between T1 and T2 in each sample. We correlated value incoherence with value change and estimated the effect across samples using a meta-analysis. Incoherence with the structure of values predicted greater value change. The associations were stronger when participant’s value structures were compared to the normative value structure at T1 than when they were compared to the theoretical structure. A meta-regression analysis indicated that effects were not moderated by age. We discuss possible underlying processes and implications for personality development.

Impact of Antipsychotic Medications on Weight Gain and Eating Disorder-Related Psychopathology in Adult Inpatients with Anorexia Nervosa.

The impact of antipsychotic use on weight gain and eating disorder-related psychopathology in adult inpatients with anorexia nervosa (AN) is unclear. Consecutively hospitalized adults with AN were retrospectively analyzed. Co-primary outcomes were body mass index (BMI) and weekly weight change. Secondary outcomes were Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) subscale scores 'drive for thinness' and 'body dissatisfaction'. Admission-to-discharge changes were compared in patients continuing pre-admission antipsychotics (APcont), starting antipsychotics (APnew) and patients without psychopharmacotherapy (noMed) using linear mixed models. Sensitivity analyses were conducted in subgroups matched for age, length of stay, baseline BMI and baseline EDI-2 scores. Subgroups were also compared regarding BMI trajectories, using non-linear growth curve models. Within-group analyses compared weight gain before vs. after the median antipsychotic onset week. Of 775 adult inpatients (mean length of stay =103.5±48.0 days), 21.7% received antipsychotics (APcont =7.7%; APnew=13.9%), i. e., olanzapine (n=127, dose =5.5±3.1 mg/day) or quetiapine (n=41, dose=100.0±97.7 mg/day), while 78.3% did not receive any medication. Comparing all three groups, a significant time×group interaction was found for noMed and APnew vs. APcont (p=0.011), but this effect disappeared when comparing matched subgroups. However, in matched subgroups (n=54 each) APnew showed steeper weight gain vs. APcont both overall (p=0.011) and after median antipsychotic initiation (5.8±5.0 weeks) (p≤0.001). No significant group differences emerged in EDI-2 subscale scores. In this naturalistic study, 22% of adult inpatients received antipsychotics. However, neither weight gain nor AN-related psychopathology changed differently in patients treated with vs. without antipsychotics. Newly initiated antipsychotic treatment vs. continuation from pre-admission had better weight gain outcomes.

Domain-specific and domain-general skills as predictors of arithmetic fluency development

We investigated Norwegian children's (n = 262) development in arithmetic fluency from first to third grade. Children's arithmetic fluency was measured at four time points, domain-specific (i.e., symbolic magnitude processing and number sequences) and domain-general skills (i.e., working memory, rapid naming, non-verbal reasoning, and sustained attention) once in the first grade. Based on a series of growth mixture models, one developmental trajectory best described the data. Multigroup latent growth curve models showed that girls and boys developed similarly in their arithmetic fluency over time. Symbolic magnitude processing and number sequence skills predicted both initial level and growth in arithmetic fluency, and working memory predicted only initial level, similarly for boys and girls. Mother's education level predicted the initial level of arithmetic fluency for boys, and rapid naming predicted growth for girls. Our findings highlight the role of domain-specific skills in the development of arithmetic fluency.

Application of the S-procedure in multiple comparisons for nonlinear models

Zerbe (1979) characterized the growth curve model as one of the nonlinear models. For these models, we propose a comprehensive procedure to identify significant differences in multiple comparisons of fully randomized growth curve models. Research applying Scheffé’s S-procedure to growth curve models as a subclass of nonlinear models has yet to be conducted. Our findings demonstrate that the S-procedure is an effective method for discerning important differences within a fully randomized growth curve model.

Comparing the Relative Efficacy of Generalized Estimating Equations, Latent Growth Curve Modeling, and Area Under the Curve with a Repeated Measures Discrete Ordinal Outcome Variable

Researchers are often interested in how changes in one variable influence changes in a second variable, requiring the repeated measures of two variables. There are several multivariate statistical methods appropriate for this research design, including generalized estimating equations (GEE) and latent growth curve modeling (LGCM). Both methods allow for variables that are not continuous in measurement level and not normally distributed. More recently, researchers have begun to employ area under the curve (AUC) as a potential alternative when the nature of change is less important than the overall effect of time on repeated measures of a random variable. The research showed that AUC is an acceptable alternative to LGCM with repeated measures of a continuous and a zero-inflated Poisson random variable. However, less is known about its performance relative to GEE and LGCM when the repeated measures are ordinal random variables. Further, to our knowledge, no study has compared AUC to LGCM or GEE when there are two longitudinal processes. We thus compared AUC to LGCM and GEE, assessing the effects of repeated measures of psychological distress on repeated measures of smoking. Results suggest AUC performed equally well with both methods, although missing data management is an issue with both AUC and GEE.

Early adolescents' ethnic-racial identity in relation to longitudinal growth in perspective taking.

Adolescents experience significant growth in social cognition, including perspective taking and identity formation. Due to the salience of race and ethnicity in the United States, adolescents' ethnic-racial identity (ERI) may have important implications for their sociocognitive development. The present study tested the association between ERI in early adolescence and subsequent longitudinal growth in perspective taking. Participants included 560 adolescents assessed annually over 4 years, beginning in sixth and seventh grade. Adolescents were from a small, rural community in the southeast United States and were from diverse ethnic-racial backgrounds (primarily Latine, Black/African American, and multiracial). Using linear growth curve modeling, we examined whether initial ERI predicted intercepts and slopes of longitudinal growth in perspective taking across adolescence. Results showed that the development of perspective taking differed based on initial ERI. Perspective taking increased significantly for youth with low and average levels of ERI but remained high and stable for youth at high levels of ERI. This study offers important evidence that Latine, Black, and multiracial youth who explore and find more clarity in their sense of ERI earlier in adolescence also show higher initial levels of perspective taking, which remains high across adolescence. Over time, most youth grow in perspective taking and eventually reach similar levels, but youth high in ERI reach these higher levels earlier than their peers, who had less sense of clarity about their ERI early in adolescence. This is one of the first known studies to directly test the association between ERI and perspective taking, utilizing a diverse, longitudinal sample of adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The contributions of motor skill proficiency to cognitive and social development in early childhood

With limited evidence from intervention studies, causal relationships between motor competence and cognitive and social development have yet to be clearly established. In this research, we investigated whether a targeted training programme to improve fundamental movement skills (i.e., object control, locomotor) in young children would also lead to improvements in the cognitive (i.e., executive function) and social (i.e., socioemotional competence) domains. Using a two-arm group randomised intervention design, 185 children aged 36 to 60 months (mean 47.51, SD 8.11 months) were allocated to a motor skill intervention group or an active control group. The intervention was implemented over one school year, and outcomes were monitored across five time points. Longitudinal analysis was performed using hierarchical linear mixed-effects and latent growth curve models. Participation in the motor skill intervention led to higher rates of development of object control skills (p < 0.001) and executive function (p < 0.001). A dose‒response relationship was found in which those children who displayed greater development of object control skills over time also displayed greater development of executive function (p = 0.001). We found no significant effects of the intervention on locomotor skills, social behaviours, or socioemotional competence. These findings provide evidence of a causal relationship between motor and cognitive development.

Exploring the Multidimensional Influences on Sleep and Active Heart Rate Dynamics: A Comprehensive Study

This study offers an in-depth examination of how various social, personal, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors are associated with both sleep and active heart rate dynamics among college students. Utilizing data collected from 487 participants over a span of 637 days via wearable technology, this research aims to unravel the intricate relationships that influence heart rate variations. Through the application of latent growth-curve modeling, we meticulously analyzed the trajectory of heart rate changes and their associations with a broad spectrum of influencing factors. This methodological approach allowed for a nuanced understanding of the dynamic interplay between heart rate and its determinants over time. The analysis revealed a consistent increase in both sleep and active heart rates across the study period, accompanied by stable standard deviations. Peer influence significantly impacted sleep and active heart rates, especially at rest. Gender and race/ethnicity were associated with heart rate dynamics, as were conscientiousness and depression levels. Environmental factors, including days of the week, academic periods, and weather conditions, exhibited significant effects. Behavioral factors, such as physical activity and daily class attendance, played a substantial role in heart rate patterns. Our findings underscore the complex interplay of factors influencing heart rate dynamics in young adults. Tailored interventions should consider these multifaceted influences to promote optimal cardiovascular well-being.