Latent Profile Transition Analysis Research Articles

Emotion profiles and their motivational antecedents among adolescent athletes in intensive training settings

ObjectivesThe purposes of this study were to: (a) identify emotion profiles of athletes involved in an intensive training setting across three measurement points (beginning, middle and end of the season); (b) explore the stability and change of those emotion profiles over the season; and (c) examine if self-determined motivation predicts membership to the emotion profiles. Method: Three hundred and forty-three adolescent athletes in intensive training settings filled out measures of emotions (sadness, anxiety, anger, happiness, confidence, love, harmony, and vitality) and self-determined motivation (autonomous and controlled). Data were analyzed using a latent profile transition analysis (LPTA) approach. Design: longitudinal three-wave design. Results: LPTA results revealed four emotion profiles: High positive emotions (PE) and low negative emotions (NE), moderately high PE and low NE, moderately high PE and NE, and moderate PE and NE. Individuals exhibited both changes and stability in their emotion profile over time. Membership of emotion profiles were predicted by autonomous and controlled motivation assessed at baseline. Conclusions: The emotion profile approach was proven useful in understanding emotions experienced over time by adolescent athletes involved in intensive training settings and has implications for psychological intervention.

Informative tools for characterizing individual differences in learning: Latent class, latent profile, and latent transition analysis

This article gives an introduction to latent class, latent profile, and latent transition models for researchers interested in investigating individual differences in learning and development. The models allow analyzing how the observed heterogeneity in a group (e.g., individual differences in conceptual knowledge) can be traced back to underlying homogeneous subgroups (e.g., learners differing systematically in their developmental phases). The estimated parameters include a characteristic response pattern for each subgroup, and, in the case of longitudinal data, the probabilities of transitioning from one subgroup to another over time. This article describes the steps involved in using the models, gives practical examples, and discusses limitations and extensions. Overall, the models help to characterize heterogeneous learner populations, multidimensional learning outcomes, non-linear learning pathways, and changing relations between learning processes. The application of these models can therefore make a substantial contribution to our understanding of learning and individual differences.

Developmental continuity and change in physical, verbal, and relational aggression and peer victimization from childhood to adolescence.

To investigate the developmental course of aggression and peer victimization in childhood and adolescence, distinct subgroups of children were identified based on similarities and differences in their physical, verbal and relational aggression, and victimization. Developmental continuity and change were assessed by examining transitions within and between subgroups from Grades 1 to 11. This longitudinal study consisted of 482 children (50% females) and was based on peer report data on multiple forms of aggression and peer victimization. Using person-centered methods including latent profile and latent transition analyses, most of the identified subgroups were distinguishable by their frequencies (i.e., levels) of aggression and victimization, rather than forms (physical, verbal, and relational), with the exception of 1 group that appeared to be more form-specific. Across subgroups, multiple developmental patterns emerged characterized as early and late-onset, social interactional continuity, desistance, and heterotypic pathways. Collectively, these pathways support the perspective that the development of aggression and peer victimization in childhood and adolescence is characterized by heterogeneity. (PsycINFO Database Record

Finding time over time: Longitudinal links between employed mothers' work-family conflict and time profiles.

Drawing upon the Work-Home Resources model (ten Brummelhuis & Bakker, 2012), this study examined the links between work-family conflict and employed mothers' profiles of time resources for work and parenting roles. Using a person-centered latent profile approach, we identified 3 profiles of time use and perceived time adequacy in a sample of mothers employed in the extended-care industry (N = 440): a Work-Oriented profile, characterized by spending relatively more time at work, perceiving lower time adequacy for work, spending less time with children, and perceiving lower time adequacy for children; a Parenting-Oriented profile, characterized by the opposite pattern; and a Role-Balanced profile, characterized by average levels across the 4 dimensions. Mothers in the Work-Oriented profile reported greater work-to-family conflict and family to-work conflict than those in the Role-Balanced and Parenting-Oriented profiles. Greater work-to-family conflict was linked to membership in the Work-Oriented profile, net of personal, family, and work characteristics. Longitudinal latent profile transition analysis showed that increases in work-to-family conflict across 12 months were linked to greater odds of moving toward the Work-Oriented profile (relative to staying in the same profile), whereas decreases in work-to-family conflict were linked to greater odds of moving toward the Parenting-Oriented profile. Results illuminate the heterogeneity in how employed mothers perceive and allocate time in work and parenting roles and suggest that decreasing work-to-family conflict may preserve time resources for parenting. Intervention efforts should address ways of increasing employees' family time resources and decreasing work-family conflict. (PsycINFO Database Record

Regulating approaches to learning: Testing learning strategy convergences across a year at university.

Contemporary models of student learning within higher education are often inclusive of processing and regulation strategies. Considerable research has examined their use over time and their (person-centred) convergence. The longitudinal stability/variability of learning strategy use, however, is poorly understood, but essential to supporting student learning across university experiences. Develop and test a person-centred longitudinal model of learning strategies across the first-year university experience. Japanese university students (n=933) completed surveys (deep and surface approaches to learning; self, external, and lack of regulation) at the beginning and end of their first year. Following invariance and cross-sectional tests, latent profile transition analysis (LPTA) was undertaken. Initial difference testing supported small but significant differences for self-/external regulation. Fit indices supported a four-group model, consistent across both measurement points. These subgroups were labelled Low Quality (low deep approaches and self-regulation), Low Quantity (low strategy use generally), Average (moderate strategy use), and High Quantity (intense use of all strategies) strategies. The stability of these groups ranged from stable to variable: Average (93% stayers), Low Quality (90% stayers), High Quantity (72% stayers), and Low Quantity (40% stayers). The three largest transitions presented joint shifts in processing/regulation strategy preference across the year, from adaptive to maladaptive and vice versa. Person-centred longitudinal findings presented patterns of learning transitions that different students experience during their first year at university. Stability/variability of students' strategy use was linked to the nature of initial subgroup membership. Findings also indicated strong connections between processing and regulation strategy changes across first-year university experiences. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Impact of Incredible Years® on teacher perceptions of parental involvement: A latent transition analysis

The purpose of the present study was to examine the impact of the Incredible Years® Teacher Classroom Management (IY TCM) training on teacher perceptions of parental involvement. A cluster randomized design was used to assign 42 classroom teachers to either an IY TCM training (n=19) or a control condition (n=23). Teachers rated parental involvement (i.e., bonding with teacher, parental involvement at school) for the families of 805 low income students (IY TCM=504, control=301). A latent profile transition analysis framework was used to model the effect of IY TCM on teacher perceptions of parental involvement from pre to posttest. Four profiles consisting of various patterns of high, medium, and low teacher perceptions of bonding with and involvement of parents emerged. Analyses of teacher profiles at baseline revealed teachers who felt parental involvement and bonding was low were also likely to rate students as having more externalizing behaviors, fewer social competencies, more attention deficit symptoms, and disruptive behaviors towards adults and peers compared to teachers with more adaptive profiles. Further analysis revealed that parents of teachers randomly assigned to IY TCM were more likely to transition to a more adaptive view of parental involvement at follow-up compared to teachers in the control condition. Because teacher perceptions of parental involvement may adversely impact teacher attitudes towards difficult students, findings from the present study support the promise of teacher training as an avenue for conferring protections for struggling students.

(Latent) transitions to learning at university: A latent profile transition analysis of first-year Japanese students

During the past decade, quantitative researchers have examined the first-year university experience from both variable-centred and person-centred perspectives. These studies have, however, generally been cross-sectional and therefore often failed to address how student learning changes during this transition. Furthermore, research has been undertaken chiefly with Western students, creating a significant gap considering the fact that students from a Confucian cultural heritage are a significant portion of the international higher education population. The present study seeks to address these weaknesses in the existing literature by employing a longitudinal person-centred approach to understanding the latent subgroups within a first-year student population at one Japanese university. Survey and achievement data from students (n = 920) attending one private university in western Japan at the beginning and end of their first academic year were analysed. Latent profile transition analysis (LPTA) identified three latent groups at time 1 and at time 2. LPTA mover-stayer modelling highlighted a pattern of students moving towards less adaptive groups over time. In particular, the least adaptive group increased in size, and no students from the low group managed to transition to the highest group during the course of their first year at a university.

Early motivational orientation profiles and language comprehension skills: From preschool to Grade 3

This study examines children's early motivational orientation profiles and their probability of belonging to a certain motivational profile group from preschool to kindergarten. We also explore the extent to which previous language comprehension skills act as indicators of a child's subsequent motivational profile at the individual level and how motivational orientation profiles among 6-year-old children are reflected in Grade 3. Altogether 130 children were assessed at ages 4, 5, and 6, of which 82 were followed up to Grade 3. Three groups of children with distinctive motivational orientation profiles—task-oriented, undifferentiated, and task-avoidance—were identified using latent profile and latent transition analysis. Motivational profiles were relatively stable across ages: 58% of the children displayed identical profiles from age 4 to age 6, and most of the changes in group membership were directed toward neighboring groups. The results further showed that an increase in language comprehension skills was associated with moving into a task-oriented profile between ages 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Moreover, children who had a task-avoidance profile at age 6 showed less task orientation and more task-avoidance orientation in Grade 3 than those with a task-oriented profile. We also discuss the importance of assessing developmental changes in motivational tendencies among pre-readers.

A latent profile transition analysis of coping within competitive situations.

A latent profile transition analysis of coping within competitive situations.

Corrigendum

Corrigendum

Sensory subtypes and associated outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Sensory features are prevalent and heterogeneous across children with ASD and these features have been associated with child outcomes. Identification of clinically defined sensory subtypes may enhance our understanding of unique phenotypes that have implications for etiology, prognosis, and intervention. This longitudinal study used a national online survey aimed to identify associations of previously validated sensory subtypes to specific child and family characteristics and functional outcomes [vineland adaptive behavior scale-II (VABS) and parenting stress index short form (PSI)]. The sensory experiences questionnaire-3.0 was collected from caregivers with children with ASD, ages 2-12, at two time points (Time 1, n = 1307, Time 2, n = 884), 1 year apart. Functional outcomes assessments were collected at the second time point. A latent profile transition analysis (LPTA) was used to test associations, and results indicated that the attenuated-preoccupied subtype presented with the significantly lowest levels of VABS adaptive behavior composite scores compared to the other three sensory subtypes. Both the VABS maladaptive behavior index and the total PSI score were significantly highest in the extreme-mixed subtype. These results underscore the clinical utility of this subtyping approach for differentiating characteristics and functional outcomes associated with clinically defined sensory phenotypes. These findings may have implications for better understanding etiology, prognosis, and more precise targets for interventions designed to ameliorate sensory difficulties, and ultimately mitigate negative developmental consequences and parenting stress. Autism Res 2016, 9: 1316-1327. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Self–Regulation and Personality Profiles: Empirical Development, Longitudinal Stability and Predictive Ability

We used Latent Profile and Latent Profile Transition Analysis to empirically develop and compare competing models of personality profiles (three– and four–profile models). We do so using data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study, a large longitudinal national probability sample of New Zealanders. Both three– and four–profile solutions demonstrated good fit and longitudinal stability. Trait configurations and predictive outcomes of the four–profile model were the most interpretable in terms of the theoretical literature, as this solution mirrored the theoretical foundation of self–regulatory ego–constructs. This supported the interpretation of a four–profile model as providing a useful distinction over and above the three–profile model. We conclude that, compared to the three–profile model, the four–profile solution provides a better foundation to serve as a complementary approach to variable–centre research. Copyright © 2016 European Association of Personality Psychology

Me, Myself, and Mobility: The Relevance of Region for Young Adults‘ Identity Development

As residential mobility is a common life event that particularly affects young adults, regional identity may be relevant for young adults. We therefore extended the three–dimensional identity model to the regional domain. The development of regional identity was studied using a prospective design over six months with a sample of 1,795 post–secondary graduates (71% female, mean age of 24.54 years), containing both movers and non–movers. Latent profile analyses and latent profile transition analyses revealed three main findings: First, solutions with four regional identity statuses—moratorium, searching moratorium, closure, and achievement—were found to be most interpretable. Second, the emergent statuses differed substantially in terms of Big Five personality traits and life satisfaction, as well as with moving experience. Third, the stability of identity status membership across a period of six months was highest for the non–movers group. Comparatively less stability across time was found for the movers, underscoring the relevance of transitions for identity development. Taken together, these findings show that even in a mobile world, region matters in identity development. Copyright © 2016 European Association of Personality Psychology

Tenacious goal pursuit and flexible goal adjustment in older people over 5 years: a latent profile transition analysis.

previous research has shown that tendencies to tenaciously pursue goals (TGP) and flexibly adapt goals (FGA) relate to well-being of older people. this study aimed to identify subpopulations of elderly people with different coping profiles, describe change in participants' profiles over time and determine the influence of coping profiles on well-being over a 5-year period. latent profile transition analysis (LPTA) was used in a three-wave longitudinal data collection measuring flexibility, tenacity, depression, self-rated health and life satisfaction among an elderly population over 65 years old. three coping profiles were identified. Profile 1 was characterised by participants with high flexibility and tenacity scores, Profile 2 with moderate flexibility and low tenacity scores and Profile 3 with low flexibility and moderate tenacity scores. Results indicate stability of these profiles over time, with Profile 1 being the most adaptive in terms of ageing well. high flexibility and tenacity in older people is a stable coping profile that is associated with successful ageing.

Multifinality of peer victimization: maladjustment patterns and transitions from early to mid-adolescence.

Peer victimization is a common and pervasive experience in childhood and adolescence and is associated with various maladjustment symptoms, including internalizing, externalizing, and somatic problems. This variety suggests that peer victimization is multifinal where exposure to the same risk leads to different outcomes. However, very little is known about the relative likelihood of each form of maladjustment. We used a latent profile approach to capture multiple possible outcomes and examined prediction by peer victimization. We also examined the role of peer victimization with regard to stability and change in maladjustment. Maladjustment symptoms and peer victimization were assessed from the participants of the large cohort study TRacking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey in early and mid-adolescence. Latent profile and latent transition analyses were conducted to examine associations between victimization and maladjustment profile and to test the role of victimization in maladjustment profile transitions. Four maladjustment profiles were identified for early adolescence (Low, Internalizing, Externalizing, Comorbid) and three profiles (Low, Internalizing, Externalizing) were identified for mid-adolescence. Internalizing problems were more likely in victimized adolescents than low symptom levels or externalizing problems. Victimized adolescents were at greater risk to develop internalizing problems between early and mid-adolescence than non-victimized adolescents. Peer victimization is multifinal mostly when outcomes are examined separately. If multiple outcomes are tested simultaneously, internalizing problems seem to be the most likely outcome.

Motivational Profiles Among Young Table-Tennis Players in Intensive Training Settings: A Latent Profile Transition Analysis

This study aimed to (a) identify motivational profiles among a sample of 141 young table-tennis players involved in intensive training settings; (b) examine the consistency or change of motivational profiles for the same athlete over time; and (c) investigate differences between these profiles on burnout, coping, stress, and recovery. Latent profile transition analysis revealed 2 or 3 distinct profiles that are similar for the 3 measurement occasions: self-determined profile, moderate profile, and low profile. Motivational profiles exhibited both stability and changes over time from an intraindividual perspective. Athletes from the self-determined profile were characterized by the best psychological adjustment.

On the consistency of personality types across adulthood: latent profile analyses in two large-scale panel studies.

Consistency and change in personality were analyzed by examining personality types across adulthood and old age using data from 2 nationally representative panel studies from Germany (N = 14,718; 16-82 years) and Australia (N = 8,315; 15-79 years). In both samples, the Big Five personality traits were measured twice across a period of 4 years. Latent profile analyses and latent profile transition analyses revealed 4 main findings: First, solutions with 3 (in the German sample) or 4 (in the Australian sample) personality types were found to be most interpretable. Second, measurement invariance tests revealed that these personality types were consistent across all age groups but differed slightly between men and women. Third, age was related to the number of individuals classified within each personality type. Namely, there were more resilients and fewer undercontrollers in older compared with younger age groups. Fourth, there was strong consistency of personality type membership across a period of 4 years in both genders and most age cohorts. Comparatively less consistency across time was found for undercontrollers and individuals in old age. Taken together, these findings show that in the 2 nations studied here, personality types were highly consistent across gender, age, and time.

Sensory subtypes in children with autism spectrum disorder: latent profile transition analysis using a national survey of sensory features.

Sensory features are highly prevalent and heterogeneous among children with ASD. There is a need to identify homogenous groups of children with ASD based on sensory features (i.e., sensory subtypes) to inform research and treatment. Sensory subtypes and their stability over 1 year were identified through latent profile transition analysis (LPTA) among a national sample of children with ASD. Data were collected from caregivers of children with ASD ages 2-12 years at two time points (Time 1 N = 1294; Time 2 N = 884). Four sensory subtypes (Mild; Sensitive-Distressed; Attenuated-Preoccupied; Extreme-Mixed) were identified, which were supported by fit indices from the LPTA as well as current theoretical models that inform clinical practice. The Mild and Extreme-Mixed subtypes reflected quantitatively different sensory profiles, while the Sensitive-Distressed and Attenuated-Preoccupied subtypes reflected qualitatively different profiles. Further, subtypes reflected differential child (i.e., gender, developmental age, chronological age, autism severity) and family (i.e., income, mother's education) characteristics. Ninety-one percent of participants remained stable in their subtypes over 1 year. Characterizing the nature of homogenous sensory subtypes may facilitate assessment and intervention, as well as potentially inform biological mechanisms.

Sensory subtypes in children with autism spectrum disorder: latent profile transition analysis using a national survey of sensory features

Sensory subtypes in children with autism spectrum disorder: latent profile transition analysis using a national survey of sensory features

On the Consistency of Personality Types Across Adulthood: Latent Profile Analyses in Two Large-Scale Panel Studies

Consistency and change in personality were analyzed by examining personality types across adulthood and old age using data from two nationally representative panel studies from Germany (N=14,718; 16-82 years) and Australia (N=8,315; 15-79 years). In both samples, the Big Five personality traits were measured twice across a period of 4 years. Latent profile analyses and latent profile transition analyses revealed four main findings: First, solutions with 3 (in the German sample) or 4 (in the Australian sample) personality types were found to be most interpretable. Second, measurement invariance tests revealed that these personality types were consistent across all age groups but differed slightly between men and women. Third, age was related to the number of individuals classified within each personality type. Namely, there were more resilients and fewer undercontrollers in older compared with younger age groups. Fourth, there was strong consistency of personality type membership across a period of 4 years in both genders and most age cohorts. Comparatively less consistency across time was found for undercontrollers and individuals in old age. Taken together, these findings show that in the two nations studied here, personality types were highly consistent across gender, age, and time.