Multiple-group Latent Growth Curve Models Research Articles

The Development of Life Goals Across the Adult Life Span.

Life goals are important organizing units for individual agency in development. On a societal level, they align with age-normative developmental tasks; on the individual level, they guide people's attempts at shaping their own development. This study investigates the development of life goals across the adult life span with a focus on differences regarding gender, parental status, education, and region. Using longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel study (N = 52,052, age range: 18-84 years), we estimated the developmental trajectories of importance ratings for 9 life goals across the adult life span using multiple-group latent growth curve modeling. Having a happy relationship or marriage, having children, and being there for others are the life goals rated as most important across almost the entire adult life span. Having a happy relationship or marriage differed strongly by gender. Up to middle adulthood it was more important for women, but more important for men in late adulthood. Parental status amplified gender differences in the work and family domain. Low education was associated with a higher perceived importance of being there for others. The largest regional differences (East vs. West) were found for home ownership. Although the importance of some life goal trajectories reflects typical age-grading in developmental tasks, other life goals (e.g., having children) remain important even after goal attainment or after developmental deadlines have passed.

Family Ties and Aging in a Multiethnic Cohort.

Objective: Lack of social support is linked to lower cognitive function and cognitive decline. We investigated the effects of a specific type of social relationship, family ties, on cognitive trajectories in non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and Hispanics. Methods: Using multiple-group latent growth curve models, we analyzed associations between the number of children/grandchildren/siblings/other relatives contacted within the past month at baseline and cognitive trajectories in 1420 older adults who were nondemented at baseline. Language, memory, and visuospatial abilities were assessed at baseline and at 18- and 24-month follow-ups for up to six visits. Inferential analyses assessed the differential effects of sex/gender and race/ethnicity for each family tie. Results: Independent of all covariates, contact with more relatives was associated with better initial memory (b = .01) and language functioning (b = .01) across race/ethnicity and sex/gender. Conclusion: The size of peripheral rather than immediate family networks may be more likely to affect cognitive function in older adults.

THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON GENDER DISPARITIES IN DISABILITY TRENDS

Objective. In Taiwan as well as in many other aging societies, decreasing disability is a key public health priority. Gender is known to be a significant factor for developing disability. Our study aimed to examine gender disparities in disability trends as well as how sociodemographic factors influence these disparities. Methods. We used multiple-group latent growth curve modeling (MG-LGM) to examine data drawn from the Taiwanese Longitudinal Study of Aging, a longitudinal and nationally representative survey database. Four waves of survey data and 3,429 older adults (mean ages = 50-96) were included for analysis. Disability trajectories among men and women were modeled separately using MG-LGM. Equality constraints were imposed on the six factors assessed: age, education, leisure activities, perceived (self-rated) health, health behaviors, and comorbidities. Results. Baseline disability levels were not significantly different between the two groups, but once disability began, the progression toward greater disability was almost 50% faster among older women. Greater age and more comorbidities added significantly more to baseline disability and speed of progression among older women than among older men (p < 0.001). However, having better health behaviors (e.g., no alcohol, more leisure activities) reduced baseline disability significantly more among women (p < 0.05). Particularly interesting findings include that perceived health reduced baseline disability only among men (p < 0.05), while having a better social network reduced baseline disability only among women (p < 0.05). Conclusion. For older women, disability prevention is crucial, and promoting positive health behaviors and strong social networks are promising strategies.

Application of multiple-group latent growth model to determine the effect of shift work on body mass index among petrochemical industries staff.

Background: Shift work can be defined as work activity scheduled in which employees work outside standard daytime hours. Some reports have shown that shift work is associated with several health problems. The main objective of this research was to explore the effect of shift work on body mass index (BMI) over time among Iranian petroleum industry staff. Methods: This longitudinal study sample was consisted of 3,686 (1,872 day workers and 1,814 shift workers) petrochemical industries staff in Mahshahr, southwest of Iran, from 2012 to 2015. The weight and height of these staff were measured using standard techniques and equipment. Multiple-group latent growth curve modeling was used to determine the effect of shift working on BMI trajectories over this period of time via Mplus software, version 6.0. Results: The mean (±SD) age of the shift workers and day workers were 38.96 (±8.36) and 43.33 (±8.35) years, respectively. Findings from the modeling approach showed that the slope of BMI in shift workers on average was 0.14 kg/m2 greater than the day workers in years under study (p<0.001). Conclusion: The findings of the current study suggest that shift work can be considered as a potential risk indicator for higher weight gain in petrochemical staff. Hence, health policy-makers should organize health screening programs and periodical checkups to find high-risk staff and control unhealthy lifestyle factors in these industries.

Sex/gender differences in cognitive trajectories vary as a function of race/ethnicity

IntroductionThe present study sought to determine whether cognitive trajectories differ between men and women across and within racial/ethnic groups. MethodsParticipants were 5258 non-Hispanic White (NHW), Black, and Hispanic men and women in the Washington/Hamilton Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project who were administered neuropsychological tests of memory, language, and visuospatial abilities at 18- to 24-month intervals for up to 25 years. Multiple-group latent growth curve modeling examined trajectories across sex/gender by race/ethnicity. ResultsAfter adjusting for age and education, the largest baseline differences were between NHW men and Hispanic women on visuospatial and language, and between NHW women and Black men on memory. Memory and visuospatial decline was steeper for Black women compared with Hispanic men and NHW women, respectively. DiscussionThis study takes an important first step in understanding interactions between race/ethnicity and sex/gender on cognitive trajectories by demonstrating variability in sex/gender differences across race/ethnicity.

Externalizing trajectories predict elevated inflammation among adolescents exposed to early institutional rearing: A randomized clinical trial

BackgroundThere has been mounting interest in the pathophysiological relation between inflammation and psychopathology. In this paper, we examined associations between internalizing and externalizing psychopathology and inflammation in adolescents with a history of severe psychosocial deprivation and children reared in typical family contexts. MethodThe Bucharest Early Intervention Project is a longitudinal randomized trial of high-quality foster care as an alternative to institutional care. This report is based on 56 institutionalized children randomized to care as usual, 59 institutionalized children randomized to foster care, and 101 never institutionalized children who were recruited as an in-country comparison sample. Externalizing and internalizing behaviors were reported by parents and teachers at ages 8, 12, and 16. At age 16, C-reactive protein (CRP) was derived from blood spots in a subset of participants (n = 127). Multiple-group latent growth curve models were used to examine externalizing and internalizing trajectories and their associations with CRP. ResultsAmong children assigned to care as usual, higher levels of externalizing behaviors at age 8, as well as smaller decreases in these behaviors from 8 to 16 years predicted higher levels of CRP at age 16. In the same group of children, higher internalizing behaviors at age 8, but not the rate of change in these behaviors, also predicted higher levels of CRP. In contrast, these relations were not observed in the children assigned to foster care and never institutionalized controls. ConclusionsEarly institutional rearing is associated with a coupling of psychopathology and inflammation, whereas early placement into foster care buffers against these risks. These findings have implications for promoting healthy mental and physical development amongst institutionalized children.

Cohort Differences in the Association of Cardiovascular Risk and Cognitive Aging

Abstract. Aim: To investigate birth cohort differences in associations between cardiovascular risk and fluid cognition between the age of 70 and 79. Method: Data were drawn from representative population-based cohort samples (H70), born 1901–1902, 1906–1907, and 1930, measured at ages 70, 75, and 79 on fluid cognitive measures (spatial ability and logical reasoning). The Framingham Risk Score (FRS), derived from office-based nonlaboratory predictors (age, sex, systolic blood pressure, BMI, smoking, diabetes status), was used to measure cardiovascular risk. Multiple-group latent growth curve models were fitted to the data. Findings: Estimates revealed small associations between the FRS and fluid cognition. These associations were slightly reduced in the 1930 cohort. Conclusion: Findings suggest diminishing adverse effects of cardiovascular risk on cognitive aging in cohorts born later.

Use of Foul Language Among Chinese Adolescents: Developmental Change and Relations With Psychosocial Competences

PurposeThe use of foul language becomes increasingly popular among youth, yet scientific research on this topic is grossly missing in the literature. This longitudinal study examined the developmental change of foul language use and its relations to emotional competence, social competence, and moral competence over high school years. MethodsData were from a six-year longitudinal study between grade 7 and grade 12 with an annual assessment on 3,328 Hong Kong adolescents (mean age = 12.59 ± .74 years). Multiple-group latent growth curve modeling based on six waves of longitudinal data were conducted. ResultsResults showed that the use of foul language increased, but the increase rate slowed down over time; males showed faster increase rate yet faster deceleration than did females. In addition, changes in emotional competence, social competence, and moral competence negatively predicted the change in use of foul language across males and females, respectively. ConclusionsAdolescents are vulnerable to increasing their use of foul language. However, promoting emotional competence, social competence, and moral competence could be helpful to minimize the increasing trend of use of foul language.

Latino Adolescents’ Ethnic Identity: Is There a Developmental Progression and Does Growth in Ethnic Identity Predict Growth in Self‐Esteem?

The current longitudinal study of 323 Latino adolescents (50.5% male; M age = 15.31 years) examined whether ethnic identity exploration, resolution, and affirmation demonstrated significant growth over a 4-year period and whether growth in ethnic identity predicted growth in self-esteem. Findings from multiple-group latent growth curve models revealed that exploration, resolution, and affirmation all increased significantly from middle to late adolescence for Latina girls. For Latino boys, only affirmation increased significantly. Furthermore, only growth in exploration predicted growth in boys' and girls' self-esteem. This research indicates that patterns of growth in ethnic identity vary by adolescent sex. Furthermore, findings underscore the need to examine the unique contributions of each ethnic identity component, rather than using a composite ethnic identity score.

Latent growth modeling of the relationship between depressive symptoms and substance use during adolescence.

To explicate the nature of the relationship between depressive symptoms and substance use, the authors conducted research that incorporated both individual and group approaches and utilized longitudinal data across development. Multiple-group latent growth curve models were used to assess specific dimensions (cross-sectional and longitudinal correlation, within-individual change, and movement off developmental trajectories) of the relationship between depressive symptoms and substance use during adolescence and how this relationship differs by gender. Annual survey data from 8th through 11th grade were provided by 441 girls and 510 boys in the Raising Healthy Children project (E. C. Brown, R. F. Catalano, C. B. Fleming, K. P. Haggerty, & R. D. Abbott, 2005). Levels of depressive symptoms and substance use in early adolescence were positively associated for alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use for girls, but only for marijuana use for boys. Individual changes in depressive symptoms and substance use across adolescence were positively associated for each type of substance use. Evidence was also found for positive association between episodic expressions of depressive symptoms and alcohol use that fell outside developmental trajectories. Predictive relationships across constructs were not found, with the exception of higher level of depressive symptoms in early adolescence predicting less increase in alcohol use.