Direct Effects Model Research Articles

Religiosity and well-being of older adults in Chennai, India

Objectives: Using the theory of religious effects (Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 42, 17–30 (2003)), the current study examined the relationship among religiosity, psychosocial resources (social support and mastery) and psychological distress. Method: Through face-to-face interviewing, data were collected from 321 randomly selected older adults in Chennai, India. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was conducted to test the direct-effect and the mediation models. The direct-effect model posited a direct inverse relation between religiosity and psychological distress. The mediation model posited that psychosocial resources mediate the influence of religiosity on psychological distress. Results: The fit indices supported a partial mediation model. Psychosocial resources partially mediated the influence of religiosity on psychological distress. Conclusion: These findings suggest the crucial role of religiosity in influencing the well-being of older adults. The need to integrate religiosity in interventions for older Indian adults is discussed.

A Preliminary Investigation into the Emotion Self-Confidence Model of Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents

This study explored implications of the emotion self-confidence model of suicidal ideation (ESC-SI Model; Deeley & Love, 2012) in adolescents. Referencing stress-coping principles, the model implies that high levels of negative emotionality coupled with low expectations for coping with, or changing, this experience (low emotion self-confidence) would predispose towards thoughts of suicide. The hypothesis was examined in 136 community adolescents using questionnaire methodology in a cross-sectional, correlational design. Regression analysis showed the model of best fit was a direct-effects (cumulative) model in which negative emotionality and emotion self-confidence each contributed to suicidal ideation through both shared and unique variance. Results supported the ESC-SI Model's validity, though its generalizability will only be confirmed through replication and further empirical research.

Bridge employment quality and its impact on retirement adjustment: A structural equation model with SHARE panel data

Bridge employment refers to the workforce participation pattern displayed by older workers between their partial retirement and their complete withdrawal from the workforce. Based on Shultz’s (2003) model of antecedents and consequences of bridge employment, this article proposes a set of hypotheses, using SHARE panel data ( N = 634) from Wave 1 (2004) and Wave 2 (2006). These data are analyzed via structural equation modeling (SEM), testing both a direct effects model and a partial mediation model. Results show that bridge employment quality partially mediates the influences of T1 antecedents on T2 consequences. The implications of this study are discussed at both the theoretical and practical level.

The importance of the first relationship: The ongoing influence of initial network on future status

The current view of network emergence is predominantly influenced by path‐dependent mechanisms where immediately preceding network structures inform current network positions. However, less explored is the ongoing sensitivity of future network positions to the composition and structure of newcomers' first partnerships. Building on the social categorization literature, we develop a model of the ongoing direct and moderating effects of newcomers' first network partnership on their status. We test our model using a panel of 272 U.S. venture capital firms from the 1980 to 2004 period and show that the reputation of newcomers' first partners exerts a positive influence on their future status (over and above intermediate network conditions). We find that this positive influence is stronger for those newcomers whose first partners formed a cohesive network. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Under the Damocles Sword: The Bank Lending Channel in a Transition Economy

This paper builds on the seminal works of Kashyap and Stein (1995) and Bernanke and Blinder (1988) and develops a two-model strategy to assess the bank lending channel of monetary policy transmission in Azerbaijan – a small transition economy. Both models comfortably confirm the existence of the bank lending channel. Smaller, less capitalized banks with lower levels of liquidity exhibit better responses to monetary shocks. The newly introduced characteristic of “profitability” appears to be very relevant, since monetary policy is consistently more powerful for less profitable banks. Concentration analysis concludes that monetary policy is less effective when consolidation intensifies and raises the issue of the negative role that systemic banks play in monetary policy transmission. An extension of the direct effects model with asymmetric policy shocks reveals that small banks get affected by both monetary policy expansions and contractions more than larger banks. The new assumption of imperfect competition is introduced to the conventional loan supply function by assuming heterogeneous lending schedules across banks, which is far more realistic for a transition economy set-up. This leads to systematically smaller estimates, implying that efficacy of the bank lending channel in transition economies is attenuated by imperfect competition in domestic financial markets. In addition, central bank notes are substituted for the more commonly used government t-bills but results do not alter substantially. In the end, sectoral analysis reveals that the bank lending channel is most effective for consumer loans and least effective for industrial loans.

Perceptions of Cultural Inclusion: A Study of the Work-Family Interface for Maori Employees Within New Zealand

Creating a work environment that is inclusive towards diverse cultures is beneficial to employees and organizations. The present study tests the effects of Perceived Cultural Inclusion (PCI) on work-family related outcomes on a sample of Maori N=349 (the indigenous people of New Zealand) employees. Because of the strong links between inclusion and Perceived Organizational Support (POS), PCI has been based on POS; and a direct effects model revealed that PCI was directly related to POS and work-family related outcomes (conflict, enrichment and balance). However, testing different models (direct effects only, partial mediation and full mediation) indicated that a partial mediation model was superior. PCI’s ability to predict POS and also to predict enrichment in both directions (work-family and family-work), and POS’s ability to predict work-family conflict and enrichment, highlights the importance of PCI to enrichment. In addition, the final model revealed that work-family conflict and both directions of enrichment predicted work-life balance. These results emphasize the importance of cultural inclusion to the work-family interface for Maori employees, and the interpretations of, and implications for these findings are discussed in this paper.

"Psychological Safety, Learning, and Performance: A Comparison of Direct and Contingent Effects"

In working to understand the predictors of experiential learning in teams, researchers have focused on one variable more than any other – psychological safety, or a shared belief that team members can take risks without fear or embarrassment. In virtually all of this work, psychological safety is viewed as having a direct effect on team learning and performance. We contrast this direct effects model with an alternative, contingent effects model in which psychological safety does not directly motivate learning but, rather, removes barriers of fear and defensiveness that can stifle experiential learning efforts when team members are otherwise motivated to learn. We present the results of a meta-analysis designed to critically evaluate these alternative models. We find that the relationships between psychological safety and both team learning and team performance are generally positive across published studies, but that the magnitude of these relationships varies considerably. In analyzing this variability, we find that psychological safety is more strongly associated with learning and performance in studies conducted in task settings that we would expect to more strongly motivate learning. The results of this study suggest that psychological safety alone may be insufficient to stimulate learning and that learning motivators must also be present.

Evaluating the complementary relationship between local brand farm products and rural tourism: Evidence from Japan

This paper examined the complementary relationship between the direct effects of local brand farm products, such as through increases in income and employment in the local community, and indirect effects, such as through the development of tourism, by examining data collected by a survey of agricultural cooperatives in Japan. Estimation of a determinant model of direct and indirect economic effects that assumed an endogenous relationship revealed that those cooperatives producing brand products that have a relatively long history of branding of products, systems for quality control, preservation of the local heritage, and a local partnership between agricultural and accommodation/restaurant sectors are much more likely to achieve the two primary economic goals of income and employment generation. It is concluded that a wider and longstanding perspective of local resource management is necessary to enhance the complementary relationship between economic gain of local brand farm products and tourism development.

Secondary traumatic stress and adjustment in therapists who work with sexual violence survivors: the moderating role of posttraumatic growth

ABSTRACT Due to their secondary exposure to the traumatic events disclosed by clients, therapists who work with sexual violence survivors are at risk of experiencing secondary traumatic stress. We examined whether the negative effects of secondary traumatic stress on therapist adjustment would be buffered by posttraumatic growth. Sixty-one therapists who work with sexual violence survivors completed measures of secondary traumatic stress, posttraumatic growth and a range of adjustment indicators. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses demonstrated that posttraumatic growth moderated the negative impact of secondary traumatic stress on therapist depression, anxiety, personal meaning and satisfaction with life. Posttraumatic growth sustained positive affect through a direct effects model only. This study provides support for the protective role of posttraumatic growth in adjustment to secondary traumatic stress.

School policy on teaching and school learning environment: direct and indirect effects upon student outcome measures

School policy on teaching and the school learning environment (SLE) are the main school factors of the dynamic model of educational effectiveness (Creemers & Kyriakides, 2008). A longitudinal study in which 50 primary schools, 108 classes, and 2369 students participated generated evidence supporting the validity of the dynamic model. This article reports the results of a re-analysis of the data of this study in order to search for direct and indirect effects of school factors included in the model. Using multilevel structural equation modelling techniques, indirect effects of school policy on teaching and SLE upon achievement in mathematics and Greek language are demonstrated. Implications of findings are drawn. Comparing the results of the multilevel direct and indirect effect model with those from using a multilevel regression model, we demonstrate the importance of choosing appropriate conceptual models and using relevant methodological approaches to understand the dynamic nature of educational effectiveness.

Antecedents of relationship learning in supplier partnerships from the perspective of an industrial customer: the direct effects model

PurposeThis study aims to examine the antecedents of relationship learning in partnerships and develop a research model that explains relationship learning through three complementary constructs: relational practices, social capital and suppliers' relationship‐specific investments.Design/methodology/approachThe study examines data drawn from interviews regarding 195 customer‐supplier relationships from the metal and electronics industries. In terms of methodology, the study employs structural equation modelling.FindingsThe findings indicate that relational practices, social capital and supplier's relationship‐specific investments explain relationship learning to a great extent.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study has some limitations, such as the use of cross‐sectional data and a limited sample size. More empirical research is needed on the antecedents and mechanisms of relationship learning as well as the interactions among antecedents.Practical implicationsThe results suggest that companies must be able to facilitate the development of relational practices, social capital and suppliers' relationship‐specific investments, as these constructs explain relationship learning largely.Originality/valueThe prior literature lacks empirical evidence on the antecedents of relationship learning, particularly in the context of partnerships. The present study demonstrates a significant impact of three antecedent constructs on relationship learning.

Reevaluation of Moxifloxacin Pharmacokinetics and Their Direct Effect on the QT Interval

The objectives of this study were to investigate the population pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin and their relationship with the observed QT interval as well as the effect of covariates in healthy subjects using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. A pool of 4 thorough QT studies were used, representing 99 healthy subjects who received moxifloxacin. The data were modeled using Monolix. Moxifloxacin pharmacokinetics were ascribed a 2- compartment open model. The TRANSIT model provided a better description of the delay in absorption than did the LAG model. The most significant covariate was lean body mass (LBM). The population estimates for clearance and central volume of distribution were 10.0 L/h per 60 kg of LBM and 131 L per 60 kg of LBM, respectively. The effect of moxifloxacin on QT was investigated using a direct effect model. The SLOPE model, relating the QT increase as a linear function of concentration, provided a better description of the pharmacodynamic effect than did the Emax model. The unique covariate was gender for both baseline QT and individual heart rate correction factor. The pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin were satisfactorily described by an open 2-compartmental model with linear elimination. The trigonometric equation with a direct and proportional concentration effect satisfactorily described the effect on QT.

Competence beliefs and perceived ability evaluations: How do they contribute to intrinsic motivation and achievement?

To study the role of students' competence beliefs and their perceived teachers' ability evaluations for intrinsic motivation and achievement in math, 459 second graders from 27 German classrooms were examined. Students provided self-reports on their intrinsic motivation, competence beliefs and perceived teachers' ability evaluations in math. Teachers gave insight in students' math grades. Relations were analyzed by three different models: a direct, an indirect and an interaction effect model. Concerning intrinsic motivation, results provided support for both an indirect effect and an interaction effect model, but not for a direct effect model. With regard to math achievement, only the indirect model appeared to be appropriate. The finding that perceived teachers' ability evaluations had an (indirect) effect on students' intrinsic motivation and achievement in math hints at the role of significant others in the development of children's academic functioning and might guide potential interventions.

Longitudinal Relationships of Religion with Posttreatment Depression Severity in Older Psychiatric Patients: Evidence of Direct and Indirect Effects

Psychiatric patients (age 59+) were assessed before study treatment for major depressive disorder, and again after 3 months. Measures taken before study treatment included facets of religiousness (subjective religiosity, private prayer, worship attendance, and religious media use), social support, and perceived stress. Clinician-rated depression severity was assessed both before and after treatment using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Structural equation modeling was used to test a path model of direct and indirect effects of religious factors via psychosocial pathways. Subjective religiousness was directly related to worse initial MADRS, but indirectly related to better posttreatment MADRS via the pathway of more private prayer. Worship attendance was directly related to better initial MADRS, and indirectly related to better post-treatment MADRS via pathways of lower stress, more social support, and more private prayer. Private prayer was directly related to better post-treatment MADRS. Religious media use was related to more private prayer, but had no direct relationship with MADRS.

Family-supportive organization perceptions: Validation of an abbreviated measure and theory extension.

Although the concept of family-supportive organization perceptions has been well received in the literature, the actual construct has been relatively understudied. In the present study, we accomplish two goals. First using confirmatory factor analysis, we report on the validation of an abbreviated six-item measure of family-supportive organization perceptions that demonstrates limited measurement error. Second, we link role theory, social support resource theory, and the direct effects model of social support, to suggest that the way in which family-supportive organization perceptions affect work-family conflict is via experiences of domain overload. Contrary to the direct effects model of social support, family-supportive organization perceptions do not differentially impact work and family overload. Consistent with social support resource theory though, the effects of family-supportive organization perceptions on work-to-family and family to-work conflict are fully mediated via work and family overload (respectively). Avenues for future research incorporating family-supportive organization perceptions are also considered.

Resilience to obesity among socioeconomically disadvantaged women: the READI study

This cross-sectional study aimed to identify sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics of 'overweight-resilient' women, that is, women who were in a healthy body weight range, despite living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods that place them at increased risk of obesity. The study also aimed to test a comprehensive theoretically derived model of the associations between intrapersonal, social and environmental factors and obesity among this target group. A total of 3235 women aged 18-45 years from 80 urban and rural neighbourhoods throughout Victoria, Australia, participated in the Resilience for Eating and Activity Despite Inequality study. Women reported height, weight, sociodemographic characteristics, leisure-time physical activity, dietary behaviours and a range of theoretically derived cognitive, social and neighbourhood environmental characteristics hypothesized to influence obesity risk. A theoretical model predicting body mass index (BMI) was tested using structural equation models. Women classified as 'resilient' to obesity tended to be younger, born overseas, more highly educated, unmarried and to have higher or undisclosed household incomes. They engaged in more leisure-time physical activity and consumed less fast foods and soft drinks than overweight/obese women. Neighbourhood characteristics, social characteristics and cognitive characteristics all contributed to explaining variation in BMI in the hypothesized directions. These results demonstrate several characteristics of women appearing 'resilient' to obesity, despite their increased risk conferred by residing in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Acknowledging the cross-sectional study design, the results advance theoretical frameworks aimed at investigating obesity risk by providing evidence in support of a comprehensive model of direct and indirect effects on obesity of neighbourhood, as well as social, cognitive and behavioural characteristics.

Behavioral Self-Regulation and Weight-Related Behaviors in Inner-City Adolescents: A Model of Direct and Indirect Effects

BACKGROUND: This study examined the association of two distinct self-regulation constructs, effortful control and dysregulation, with weight-related behaviors in adolescents and tested whether these effects were mediated by self-efficacy variables. METHODS: A school-based survey was conducted with 1771 adolescents from 11 public schools in the Bronx, New York. Self-regulation was assessed by multiple indicators and defined as two latent constructs. Dependent variables included fruit/vegetable intake, intake of snack/junk food, frequency of physical activity, and time spent in sedentary behaviors. Structural equation modeling examined the relation of effortful control and dysregulation to lifestyle behaviors, with self-efficacy variables as possible mediators. RESULTS: Study results showed that effortful control had a positive indirect effect on fruit and vegetable intake, mediated by self-efficacy, as well as a direct effect. Effortful control also had a positive indirect effect on physical activity, mediated by self-efficacy. Dysregulation had direct effects on intake of junk food/snacks and time spent in sedentary behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that self-regulation characteristics are related to diet and physical activity and that some of these effects are mediated by self-efficacy. Different effects were noted for the two domains of self-regulation. Prevention researchers should consider including self-regulation processes in programs to improve health behaviors in adolescents.

Biopsychosocial Models and the Study of Family Processes and Child Adjustment

Biopsychosocial Models and the Study of Family Processes and Child Adjustment

Internal politics in academia: its nature and mediating effect on the relationship between social capital and work outcomes

This study has a twofold goal. First, we examined perceptions of organizational politics as viewed by the academic staff in a public university. Second, we tested the potential mediating effect of perceptions of politics on the relationship between social capital and work outcomes. We surveyed 142 junior and senior faculty members of a large public Israeli university and tested several competing models. Major results, based on Structural Equations Model (SEM) analysis, indicate that the mediating model has several advantages over the direct effect model. In addition, a revised, mixed model provided additional advantages. The models are compared and discussed. Finally, implications of the findings and recommendations for future studies on internal politics and social capital in academia and beyond are suggested.

Unpacking Links between Fathers’ Antisocial Behaviors and Children’s Behavior Problems: Direct, Indirect, and Interactive Effects

Building upon previous evidence for the intergenerational transmission of antisocial behaviors, this research assessed and compared three models seeking to explain links between fathers' antisocial behaviors and children's behavior problems. A representative sample of children from low-income families (N=261) was followed from age 3 through age 9. Lagged OLS regression models assessed both short-term (1½ years) and longer-term (5½ years) prospective links between fathers' antisocial behaviors and children's behavior problems. Results supported a direct effects model: fathers' antisocial behaviors predicted growth in children's externalizing and internalizing behavior problems, with links stronger among resident-father families. Limited evidence of indirect effects emerged, with links between fathers' antisocial behaviors and children's behavior problems only slightly attenuated controlling for related risk factors and for parenting quality, showing limited evidence of mediation. A new interactive model was proposed and supported, with high levels of harsh discipline exacerbating negative links between fathers' antisocial behaviors and children's internalizing problems. Results suggest caution in policies and programs which seek to universally increase marriage or father involvement without attention to fathers' behaviors.