Linear Structural Equation Models Research Articles

The satisfaction of elderly people with elderly caring social organizations and its relationship with social support and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundWith the deepening of China’s aging population, higher demands have been placed on the supply of elderly care services. As one of the main sources of providing elderly care services, the quality of service provided by elderly caring social organizations (SOs) directly affects the quality of life of the elderly. In recent years, mental health issues among the elderly have become increasingly prominent, especially with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Necessitating the need to pay much more attention to the social support and mental health of this population. This study, therefore, explores the mediating role of institutional satisfaction between the social support and anxiety levels of elderly people in Chongqing’s elderly caring SOs.MethodThis study employed a multi-stage stratified random sampling method to survey 1004 service recipients in elderly caring social organizations from July to August 2022. The self-made sociodemographic questionnaire, institutional satisfaction questionnaire, MSPSS, and GAD-7 were used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, institutional satisfaction, social support, and anxiety levels of older adults. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Cronbach’s alpha were used to test construct validity and scale reliability, respectively. Data features were described with One-Way Analysis of Variance, while Multiple Linear Regression and Structural Equation Modeling were used to evaluate relationships between social support, institutional satisfaction, and anxiety levels.ResultsThe average institutional satisfaction score for elderly people in elderly caring SOs was 48.14 ± 6.75. Specifically, the satisfaction score for environmental quality and the satisfaction score for service quality were 16.63 ± 2.56 and 31.52 ± 4.76, respectively. In terms of socio-demographic variables, the presence of visits from relatives, personal annual average income, and self-rated health status all have significant effects on anxiety. Elders who receive visits from relatives have lower levels of anxiety compared to those who do not. Personal annual average income and self-rated health status are negatively correlated with anxiety levels. Social support had significant positive effect on institutional satisfaction, while institutional satisfaction had significant negative effect on anxiety. Institutional satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between social support and anxiety.ConclusionsOur research demonstrates that improving the quality of organizational services in elderly caring SOs and increasing institutional satisfaction among the elders has significant potential for reducing anxiety levels among the elderly. Additionally, the social support by visits from family members cannot be overlooked. We encourage increasing the frequency of family visits through various means to enhance the support provided to elderly individuals.

Correction to: ‘Ancestor regression in linear structural equation models’

Correction to: ‘Ancestor regression in linear structural equation models’

Predictors of Ball Velocity in the Sitting Volleyball Serve: A Causal Analysis.

This study explored the performance of the Sitting Volleyball serve by investigating the causal factors associated with ball velocity. Thirty-seven athletes underwent anthropometry and strength assessment and performed ten successful maximal effort serves. Ball velocity was measured using a sports radar gun. The hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist angles at the instant of ball impact as well as the height of ball impact were estimated through two-dimensional motion analysis. The causal relationships between variables were described through a linear Structural Equation Model and a Directed Acyclic Graph. Results showed that a smaller hip angle determines a greater shoulder angle, which in turn causes a greater elbow angle. A more open elbow angle together with a greater vertical reach allowed for a greater height of ball impact. Finally, increased height of ball impact along with greater abdominal strength are beneficial for higher ball velocity. These results underlined that the Sitting Volleyball serve is a multifactorial stroke involving anthropometric, technical and strength factors and suggest that athletes should improve their abdominal strength and master the technique necessary to perform the serve with the shoulder and the elbow joints fully extended in order to produce the greatest possible impact on the ball.

An unbiased estimator of the causal effect on the variance based on the back-door criterion in Gaussian linear structural equation models

This paper assumes a context in which cause–effect relationships between random variables can be represented by a Gaussian linear structural equation model and the corresponding directed acyclic graph. We consider the situation where we observe a set of random variables satisfying the so-called back-door criterion. When the ordinary least squares method is utilized to estimate the total effect, we formulate the unbiased estimator of the causal effect (the estimated causal effect) on the variance of the outcome variable with external intervention in which a treatment variable is set to a specified constant value. In addition, we provide the variance formula for the estimated causal effect on the variance. The variance formula proposed in this paper is exact, in contrast to those in most previous studies on estimating causal effects.

Effect of body image perception and skin-lightening practices on mental health of Filipino emerging adults: a mixed-methods approach protocol

IntroductionThe rampant distribution of idealised images on the internet may lead the general public to improve their body appearance in a way that is sometimes excessive, compulsive or detrimental to...

Comorbidities do not mitigate the effect of habitual physical activity on the reduction of healthcare costs among adults with cardiovascular diseases: A mediation analysis

BackgroundHabitual Physical activity (HPA) is a non-pharmacological strategy to prevent and control chronic diseases, and it plays an important role in minimizing healthcare costs. ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between HPA and healthcare costs from the perspective of the Brazilian National Healthcare System, and to establish the mediating role of comorbidities in this relationship among patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Design and settingThis longitudinal study was conducted in a medium-sized Brazilian city and included 278 participants assisted by the Brazilian National Healthcare System. MethodsInformation on healthcare costs were obtained from medical records and included primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Comorbidities (diabetes, dyslipidemia, and arterial hypertension) were self-reported, and obesity was confirmed with the percentage of body fat. HPA was measured using a questionnaire (Baecke questionnaire). Face-to-face interviews provided information on sex, age, and education level. Statistical analysis included linear regression and Structural Equation Modeling, significance was set at 5 % and the Stata software (version 16.0) was used to perform the analysis. ResultsThe sample included 278 adults with a mean age of 54.49 (8.32) years. For each score of HPA, there was a reduction in healthcare costs of US$ 83.99/24 months (95 % CI: − 159.15; − 8.84), and the sum of comorbidities did not mediate this relationship. ConclusionIt is concluded that healthcare costs seem to be affected by HPA among patients with CVD, while this phenomenon seems not to be mediated by the sum of comorbidities.

The estimated causal effect on the variance based on the front-door criterion in Gaussian linear structural equation models: an unbiased estimator with the exact variance

In this paper, we assume that cause–effect relationships between random variables can be represented by a Gaussian linear structural equation model and the corresponding directed acyclic graph. Then, we consider a situation where a set of random variables that satisfies the front-door criterion is observed to estimate a total effect. In this situation, when the ordinary least squares method is utilized to estimate the total effect, we formulate the unbiased estimator of the causal effect on the variance of the outcome variable. In addition, we provide the exact variance formula of the proposed unbiased estimator.

Drivers of the microbial metabolic quotient across global grasslands

AbstractAimThe microbial metabolic quotient (MMQ; mg CO2‐C/mg MBC/h), defined as the amount of microbial CO2 respired (MR; mg CO2‐C/kg soil/h) per unit of microbial biomass C (MBC; mg C/kg soil), is a key parameter for understanding the microbial regulation of the carbon (C) cycle, including soil C sequestration. Here, we experimentally tested hypotheses about the individual and interactive effects of multiple nutrient addition (nitrogen + phosphorus + potassium + micronutrients) and herbivore exclusion on MR, MBC and MMQ across 23 sites (five continents). Our sites encompassed a wide range of edaphoclimatic conditions; thus, we assessed which edaphoclimatic variables affected MMQ the most and how they interacted with our treatments.LocationAustralia, Asia, Europe, North/South America.Time period2015–2016.Major taxaSoil microbes.MethodsSoils were collected from plots with established experimental treatments. MR was assessed in a 5‐week laboratory incubation without glucose addition, MBC via substrate‐induced respiration. MMQ was calculated as MR/MBC and corrected for soil temperatures (MMQsoil). Using linear mixed effects models (LMMs) and structural equation models (SEMs), we analysed how edaphoclimatic characteristics and treatments interactively affected MMQsoil.ResultsMMQsoil was higher in locations with higher mean annual temperature, lower water holding capacity and lower soil organic C concentration, but did not respond to our treatments across sites as neither MR nor MBC changed. We attributed this relative homeostasis to our treatments to the modulating influence of edaphoclimatic variables. For example, herbivore exclusion, regardless of fertilization, led to greater MMQsoil only at sites with lower soil organic C (< 1.7%).Main conclusionsOur results pinpoint the main variables related to MMQsoil across grasslands and emphasize the importance of the local edaphoclimatic conditions in controlling the response of the C cycle to anthropogenic stressors. By testing hypotheses about MMQsoil across global edaphoclimatic gradients, this work also helps to align the conflicting results of prior studies.

Ancestor regression in linear structural equation models

Summary We present a new method for causal discovery in linear structural equation models. We propose a simple technique based on statistical testing in linear models that can distinguish between ancestors and non-ancestors of any given variable. Naturally, this approach can then be extended to estimating the causal order among all variables. We provide explicit error control for false causal discovery, at least asymptotically. This holds true even under Gaussianity, where other methods fail due to non-identifiable structures. These Type I error guarantees come at the cost of reduced power. Additionally, we provide an asymptotically valid goodness-of-fit p-value for assessing whether multivariate data stem from a linear structural equation model.

Perceived Risk Effect on Brand Attachment: Explore Linear Regression Combined with Structural Equations Model Methods

The extent to which consumers like a brand is reflected by brand attachment, which is widely recognized by academics as an emotional relationship with the brand. Has this relationship always been strong and reliable? Does brand attachment have an impact under the influence of perceived risk? There is a great lack of research in this area and need to investigate. This study explores the methodology of a new model of perceived risk and brand attachment. Using a quantitative approach combining multiple linear regression and structural equation modelling, the analysis of the data revealed that COVID-19 perceived risks of financial, social, physical, psychological, and temporal risks can have a negative impact on brand attachment. In future research, the authors attempt to explore more factors influencing brand attachment, using panel data for a more in-depth study. This study also provides evidence to enrich the empirical research on brand attachment and also brings some lessons for companies' brand management practices.

Maternal Self-Efficacy as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Postpartum Depression and Maternal Role Competence: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

This study aimed to (1) examine the relationships among postpartum depression, maternal self-efficacy, and maternal role competence, and to (2) test whether maternal self-efficacy mediates the relationship between postpartum depression and maternal role competence. Using a cross-sectional design, we conveniently sampled 343 postpartum mothers from 3 primary health care facilities in Eswatini. Data were collected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Maternal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, and Perceived Competence Scale. Multiple linear regression models and structural equation modeling were performed in IBM SPSS and SPSS Amos to examine the studied associations and to test the mediation effect. The participants were aged 18 to 44 (mean, 26.4; SD, 5.86) years, and the majority were unemployed (67.1%), had an unintended pregnancy (61.2%), received education during antenatal classes (82.5%), and fulfilled the cultural norm of the maiden home visit (58%). Adjusting for covariates, postpartum depression was negatively associated with maternal self-efficacy (β = -.24, P < .001) and maternal role competence (β = -.18, P = .001), whereas maternal self-efficacy was positively associated with maternal role competence (β = .41, P < .001). In the path analysis, postpartum depression only related to maternal role competence indirectly through maternal self-efficacy (β = -.10, P = .003). High maternal self-efficacy was associated with high maternal role competence and fewer postpartum depression symptoms, suggesting that improving maternal self-efficacy may help reduce postpartum depression and may improve maternal role competence.

Visual impairment and retinal and brain neurodegeneration: A population-based study.

Visual impairment and retinal neurodegeneration are intrinsically connected and both have been associated with cognitive impairment and brain atrophy, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To investigate whether transneuronal degeneration is implicated, we systematically assessed the relation between visual function and retinal, visual pathway, hippocampal and brain degeneration. We analyzed baseline data from 3316 eligible Rhineland Study participants with visual acuity (VA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data available. Regional volumes, cortical volume, and fractional anisotropy (FA) were derived from T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted 3 T MRI scans. Statistical analyses were performed using multivariable linear regression and structural equation modeling. VA and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thinning were both associated with global brain atrophy (SD effect size [95% CI] -0.090 [-0.118 to -0.062] and 0.066 [0.053-0.080], respectively), and hippocampal atrophy (-0.029 [-0.055 to -0.003] and 0.114 [0.087-0.141], respectively). The effect of VA on whole brain and hippocampal volume was partly mediated by retinal neurodegeneration. Similarly, the effect of retinal neurodegeneration on brain and hippocampal atrophy was mediated through intermediate visual tracts, accounting for 5.2%-23.9% of the effect. Visual impairment and retinal neurodegeneration were robustly associated with worse brain atrophy, FA, and hippocampal atrophy, partly mediated through disintegration of intermediate visual tracts. Our findings support the use of OCT-derived retinal measures as markers of neurodegeneration, and indicate that both general and transneuronal neurodegeneration along the visual pathway, partly reflecting visual impairment, account for the association between retinal neurodegeneration and brain atrophy.

Beyond a bunch of reviews: The quality and quantity of electronic word-of-mouth

This work proposed an integrated model incorporating review quality and quantity to explore the extent to which consumers adopt electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM) information. A linear structural equation model was employed to analyze 435 valid responses and test it against the hypotheses. The empirical results suggest that in terms of e-WOM the influence of review quantity outweighs that of the review quality. Review consistency negatively correlates with informational influence. Consumers are alert to highly consistent reviews and may easily doubt ones that contain similar content. Furthermore, the relationship between perceived persuasiveness and social influence will not be inhibited by confirmation bias.

Cardiovascular health profiles, systemic inflammation, and physical function in older adults: A population-based study

We examined the association of modifiable cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics with physical function among rural older adults in China and the potential role of inflammatory mechanisms in the association. This study included 3733 stroke- and dementia-free participants (age ≥65 years; 56.9% women) in the baseline survey of a multimodal intervention study in rural China. From March-September 2018, data were collected via face-to-face interviews, clinical assessments, and laboratory tests. The Short Performance Physical Battery (SPPB) test was performed to assess physical function. We defined six modifiable CVH metrics according to the modified American Heart Association's recommendations. Serum interleukin (IL)-6 was measured in a subsample (n = 1156). Data were analyzed with multiple general linear and logistic regression models and structural equation modeling. Poor physical function (SPPB score ≤9) was defined in 1443 participants. Ideal CVH (vs. poor CVH) was associated with multivariable-adjusted odds ratio of 0.60 (95%CI 0.48–0.75) for poor physical function. Ideal CVH was significantly associated with higher scores on balance, chair stand, and walking speed tests (all p < 0.05). Moreover, ideal CVH profile was associated with lower serum IL-6 (multivariable-adjusted β=-0.04; 95% CI -0.06, -0.01). Mediation analysis revealed that serum IL-6 accounted for 14% of the association of CVH with total SPPB score and 10% of the association with walking speed score (p < 0.05). This study suggests that an ideal CVH profile is associated with better physical function among stroke- and dementia-free older adults, partly via inflammatory mechanisms. The preventive implications of these findings warrant further investigation in cohort studies.

Can food security and low carbon be achieved simultaneously? —An empirical analysis of the mechanisms influencing the carbon footprint of potato and corn cultivation in irrigation areas

Irrigated agriculture has tripled since 1950, accounting for 20% of the global arable land and 40% of food production. Irrigated agriculture increases food security yet has controversial implications for global climate change. Most previous studies have calculated carbon emissions and their composition in irrigated areas using the engineering approach to life-cycle assessment. By combining life cycle assessment (LCA)-based carbon emissions accounting with econometric models such as multiple linear regression and structural equation modeling (SEM), we conducted an interdisciplinary study to identify the influencing factors and internal mechanisms of the carbon footprint (CFP) of smallholder crop cultivation on irrigation reform pilot areas. To this end, we investigated corn and potato production data in the 2019–2020 crop years for 852 plots of 345 rural households in six villages (two irrigation agriculture pilot villages and four surrounding villages as controls) in Southwest China. The crop CFP in the irrigation agriculture pilot areas was significantly lower than in non-reform areas. Irrigation reforms mainly impacted the crop CFP through four intermediary effects: the project (implementation of field irrigation channels), technology (improving adoption of new irrigation technologies), management (proper irrigation operation and maintenance), and yield effects. All effects inhibited the CFP, except for the project effect that promotes carbon emissions. Among them, yield increase has the greatest impact on reducing CFP, followed by management and technology effects. Furthermore, planting practices, individual characteristics, and plot quality significantly impacted the crop CFP. This study has policy implications for understanding the food security–climate nexus in the food production industry.

The Fully Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience between Self-Efficacy and Mental Health: Evidence from the Study of College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Student populations are susceptible to the COVID-19 pandemic and may easy develop mental health problems related to their immaturity of psychological development and fluctuation of mood. However, little has been known about the effects of the pandemic on college students and the associated influencing factors. This study aimed to explore the role of psychological resilience as a mediator between general self-efficacy and mental health. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 480 Chinese college students from 12 universities in Hunan province of China. The participants responded anonymously to the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Chinese version of the Resilience Scale for College Students (RSCS), and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Hierarchical linear regression and structural equation modeling were used in this study. The average of GSES and RSCS scores of college students were 25.00 ± 4.68 and 137.97 ± 15.50, which were at a medium level. The average score for the GHQ-12 was 1.59 ± 1.59, and 22.03% of the college students scored ≥ 3 on the GHQ-12, indicating that they were at risk of developing mental disorders. According to the analyses of mediation effect, psychological resilience played a fully mediating role in the relationship between general self-efficacy and mental health. In conclusion, Chinese college students were at high risk of developing mental disorders during the COVID-19 period. General self-efficacy was positively associated with psychological resilience, and psychological resilience played a fully mediating role in the relationship between general self-efficacy and mental health. Future studies and interventions should aim to promote psychological resilience and general self-efficacy.

Correlations between caregiver competence, burden and health-related quality of life among Chinese family caregivers of elderly adults with disabilities: a cross-sectional study using structural equations analysis

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between caregiver competence and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among family caregivers of disabled elderly adults, and to evaluate the role of caregiver burden as a...

Computationally Efficient Learning of Gaussian Linear Structural Equation Models with Equal Error Variances

This study develops a computationally efficient and statistically consistent learning algorithm for large-scale Gaussian linear structural equation models with equal error variances. The novelty of the proposed algorithm is that it applies a hypothesis test rather than a score when recovering the directions of the edges. Specifically, the proposed algorithm estimates the topological layers using a Z-test. Subsequently, it estimates the parents of each node using a consistent conditional independence test. This study proves that the proposed topological layer estimation approach is asymptotically consistent. It further shows that the proposed method is computationally more efficient than existing score-based algorithms for Gaussian linear SEMs by comparing the computational complexities. It is confirmed through synthetic and real-world data that the proposed algorithm is consistent and computationally much faster than the state-of-the-art large-scale Gaussian linear SEM learning algorithms, such as the USF, USB, TD, and HGSM algorithms. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.

Relationships between alexithymia and food addiction: The Finnish version of Yale Food Addiction Scale and preliminary test of its psychometric properties.

It has long been suggested that addictive behaviors are associated with alexithymia, a personality trait characterized by difficulties in emotional awareness and expression. However, little is known about the role of alexithymia in food addiction. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between alexithymia and food addiction. As part of the study, the validity of the Finnish version of Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS-F) was also investigated. The sample consisted of 360 parents from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. The structural validity of the YFAS-F was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to explore the structure when proposed models were not supported by CFA. The associations of alexithymia as measured by the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and food addiction were examined using regression analyses followed by structural equation modeling. Higher alexithymia was associated with more food addiction by conducting linear regression analysis (B = 0.013, p = 0.011) and structural equation modeling (β = 0.24, p < 0.001). Furthermore, a single-factor model for the 8 criteria of the YFAS-F was supported by CFA and showed acceptable internal reliability (KR-20 = 0.72), and a three-factor solution for the 20 items of the scale was suggested by EFA with good internal reliability (McDonald's ω = 0.91 for the YFAS-F, 0.91 for component 1, 0.87 for component 2, and Spearman-Brown coefficient = 0.89 for component 3). The current study determined a significant relationship between alexithymia and food addiction, which suggests alexithymia as a relevant factor for food addiction and may provide clinical implications for interventions. Moreover, the YFAS-F appeared to be a valid and reliable tool to evaluate food addiction in our Finnish general population sample. Further studies on the psychometric properties of the YFAS-F in more diverse populations are recommended.

Densely connected sub-Gaussian linear structural equation model learning via ℓ1- and ℓ2-regularized regressions

This paper develops a new algorithm for learning densely connected sub-Gaussian linear structural equation models (SEMs) in high-dimensional settings, where the number of nodes increases with increasing number of samples. The proposed algorithm consists of two main steps: (i) the component-wise ordering estimation using ℓ2-regularized regression and (ii) the presence of edge estimation using ℓ1-regularized regression. Hence, the proposed algorithm can recover a large degree graph with a small indegree constraint. Also proven is that the sample size n=Ω(p) is sufficient for the proposed algorithm to recover a sub-Gaussian linear SEM provided that d=O(plog⁡p), where p is the number of nodes and d is the maximum indegree. In addition, the computational complexity is polynomial, O(np2max⁡(n,p)). Therefore, the proposed algorithm is statistically consistent and computationally feasible for learning a densely connected sub-Gaussian linear SEM with large maximum degree. Numerical experiments verified that the proposed algorithm is consistent, and performs better than the state-of-the-art high-dimensional linear SEM learning HGSM, LISTEN, and TD algorithms in both sparse and dense graph settings. Also demonstrated through real data is that the proposed algorithm is well-suited to estimating the Seoul public bike usage patterns in 2019.