Person-centered Analyses Research Articles

Linking Adverse Experiences to Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes: A Life Course Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Disparities Among Low-Income Women.

Racial and ethnic disparities in birth outcomes have persisted in the United States for decades, though the causes remain poorly understood. The life course perspective posits that poorer outcomes of Black birthing people stem from heightened exposure to stressors early in life and cumulative exposure to stressors over time. Despite its prominence, this perspective has seldom been investigated empirically. We analyzed longitudinal data gathered from 1319 women in low-income households in Wisconsin who received perinatal home visiting services. Variable- and person-centered analyses were performed to assess whether 15 adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and 10 adverse adult experiences (AAEs) were associated, alone and in combination, with pregnancy loss, preterm birth, and low birth weight among Hispanic (i.e., Latinx) and non-Hispanic Black and White participants. As expected, there were disparities in preterm birth and low birth weight, and both ACEs and AAEs were linked to poorer pregnancy and birth outcomes. Unexpectedly, bivariate and multivariate analyses showed that the associated effects of ACEs and AAEs were most robust for non-Hispanic White women. A latent class analysis produced four patterns of life course adversity, and multigroup latent class analyses confirmed that, compared to White women, higher-adversity class assignments were associated with less robust effects for Hispanic women, and even less robust effects for Black women. We discuss interpretations of the paradoxical findings, including the possibility that alternative sources of stress such as interpersonal and structural racism may better account for the reproductive disparities that disproportionately affect Black birthing people.

Innovation Climate Profiles

Abstract: While person-centered analyses can provide information on important configural effects in the context of multi-dimensional constructs, we have found little research taking this approach with innovation climate. Specifically, we found no research applying this approach to results from the Team Climate Inventory, the most frequently used questionnaire on innovation climate. Therefore, we explore the presence of latent profiles in responses to the Team Climate Inventory and extend this exploration to associations between the profiles and self-reported innovative behaviors. Latent profile analyses conducted on two samples of 435 and 461 participants indicated the presence of three innovation climate profiles respectively indicating low, medium, and high scores on innovation climate dimensions. Innovative behaviors covaried with profiles accordingly. The multi-group analysis supported the similarity between latent profile solutions across samples. We discuss the apparent lack of potential for configural effects and invite researchers who could be interested in interactive effects between climate dimensions to verify whether the configurations implied by their interactions are actually present in the data.

Age, Loneliness, and Social Media Use in Adults during COVID-19: A Latent Profile Analysis.

Loneliness has been linked to morbidity and mortality across the lifespan. Social media could reduce loneliness, though research on the relation between social media and loneliness has been inconclusive. This study used person-centered analyses to elucidate the inconsistencies in the literature and examine the possible role technology barriers played in the relation between social media use and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (n = 929; M age = 57.58 ± 17.33) responded to a series of online questions covering demographics, loneliness, technology barriers, and social media use (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc.) across a range of devices (e.g., computer, smartphone, etc.). A latent profile analysis was conducted to identify distinct profiles of social media use, loneliness patterns, and age. Results yielded five distinct profiles characterized that showed no systematic associations among age, social media use, and loneliness. Demographic characteristics and technology barriers also differed between profiles and were associated with loneliness. In conclusion, person-centered analyses demonstrated distinct groups of older and younger adults that differed on social media use and loneliness and may offer more fruitful insights over variable-centered approaches (e.g., regression/correlation). Technology barriers may be a viable target for reducing loneliness in adults.

Values Informing Former Refugees’ Good Life Experiences and Endeavors

We explore the role of personal values in the experiences and endeavors of a good life among Hmong and Somali former refugees who have resettled in the United States. Using thematic analysis of semi-structured qualitative interviews, we first identify and examine personal values central to their sense of a good life. With a person-centered analysis, we then highlight patterns showing how different values are related to one another in former refugees’ statements of a good life. We highlight how former refugees’ life experiences may lead them to hold motivationally opposing values that typically do not coexist as value priorities.

The interactive roles of religion, parenting, and sex communication in adolescent sexual risk-taking

The present study used longitudinal person-centered analyses to understand how parent religiosity, parenting styles, and parent-adolescent sex communication interact in predicting adolescent sexual risk-taking over time. The sample included 681 adolescents and their parents (Mage = 15, at wave 5) from Waves 5 and 6 of the Flourishing Families Project. Variables capturing parent religiosity, parenting styles, and parent-adolescent sex communication were used as class indicators in a latent profile analysis. Three classes emerged: (1) Non-religious Authoritative families, (2) Religious Authoritarian families, and (3) Religious Authoritative families. The Non-religious Authoritative and Religious Authoritarian families did not significantly differ on later adolescent sexual risk-taking (controlling for prior sexual risk-taking), while the Religious Authoritative families had adolescents with significantly lower subsequent sexual risk-taking. These results demonstrate the complex ways in which religion, parenting, and sex communication interact in predicting adolescent sexual risk-taking. Thus, both the content and process of sexual socialization may be important.

HPA–SAM co-activation among racially diverse, economically disadvantaged early adolescents: Secondary analysis with a preliminary test of a multisystem, person-centered approach

Investigating the co-activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and sympathetic-adrenomedullary (SAM) responses to acute stress can provide insight into how risk might become biologically embedded during early adolescence and improve understanding of what distinguishes physiological dysregulation from normative/expected physiological responses to stress. Evidence has thus far been mixed as to whether symmetric or asymmetric co-activation patterns are associated with higher exposure to chronic stress and poorer mental health outcomes during adolescence. This study expands on a prior multisystem, person-centered analysis of lower-risk, racially homogenous youth by focusing on HPA–SAM co-activation patterns in a higher-risk, racially diverse sample of early adolescents from low-income families (N = 119, Mage=11.79 years, 55.5% female, 52.7% mono-racial Black). The present study was conducted by performing secondary analysis of data from the baseline assessment of an intervention efficacy trial. Participants and caregivers completed questionnaires; youth also completed the Trier Social Stress Test-Modified (TSST–M) and provided six saliva samples. Multitrajectory modeling (MTM) of salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase levels identified four HPA–SAM co-activation profiles. In accordance with the asymmetric-risk model, youth exhibiting Low HPA–High SAM (n = 46) and High HPA–Low SAM (n = 28) profiles experienced more stressful life events, posttraumatic stress, and emotional and behavioral problems relative to Low HPA–Low SAM (n = 30) and High HPA–High SAM (n = 15) youth. Findings highlight potential differences in biological embedding of risk during early adolescence based on individuals’ exposure to chronic stress and illustrate the utility of multisystem and person-centered approaches in understanding how risk might get “underneath the skin” across systems.

Disentangling the personality pathways to well-being

Recent genomic, psychological, and developmental research shows that human personality is organized as a complex hierarchy that ascends from individual traits in many specific situations to multi-trait profiles in two domains that regulate emotional reactivity (temperament) or goals and values (character), and finally to three integrated temperament-character networks that regulate learning to maintain well-being in changing conditions. We carried out person-centered analyses of the components of subjective well-being (positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction) to personality in both adolescents (N = 1739) and adults (N = 897). Personality was considered at each level of its organization (trait, temperament or character profiles, and joint temperament-character networks). We show for the first time that negative affect and life satisfaction are dependent on the personality network for intentional self-control, whereas positive affect is dependent on the personality network for self-awareness that underlies the human capacities for healthy longevity, creativity, and prosocial values.

Secular trends in mental health profiles among 15-year-olds in Sweden between 2002 and 2018.

Studies of secular trends in mental unhealth indicate that adolescents in the Nordic countries, especially girls, have an increased reported prevalence of mental health problems the last decades. This increase needs to be seen in the light of the adolescents' assessments of their perceived overall health. To investigate whether a person-centered approach to research can enhance understanding of changes over time in the distribution of mental health problems among Swedish adolescents. A dual-factor approach was used to study changes over time in mental health profiles among nationally representative 15-year-old adolescent samples from Sweden. Cluster analyses of subjective health symptoms (psychological and somatic) and perceived overall health from the Swedish Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) surveys of 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 were used to identify these mental health profiles (n = 9,007). Four mental health profiles were identified by a cluster analysis which combined all five data collections-Perceived good health, Perceived poor health, High psychosomatic symptoms, and Poor mental health. There were no significant differences in the distributions of these four mental health profiles between the survey years 2002 and 2010, but substantial changes took place between 2010 and 2018. Here, particularly the High psychosomatic symptoms profile increased among both boys and girls. The Perceived good health profile decreased among both boys and girls, and the Perceived poor health profile decreased among girls. The profile involving the most pronounced mental health problems, the Poor mental health profile (perceived poor health, high psychosomatic problems), was stable from 2002 to 2018 among both boys and girls. The study shows the added value of using person-centered analyses to describe differences in mental health indicators between cohorts of adolescents over longer periods of time. In contrast to the long-term increase in mental health problems seen in many countries, this Swedish study did not find an increase among young persons, both boys and girls, with the poorest mental health, the Poor mental health profile. Rather, the most substantial increase over the survey years, predominantly between 2010 and 2018, was found among the 15-year-olds with High psychosomatic symptoms only.

Parental identity formation in mothers is linked to borderline and depressive symptoms: A person-centered analyses.

The formation of a stable parental identity is an important developmental task which parents face. Difficulties in this process can significantly decrease the quality of life and hinder the fulfillment of the parental role. The present study analyzed whether parental identity status, based on the three identity processes from the Meeus-Crocetti model, is related to the severity of borderline and depressive symptoms. Four hundred and fifty-nine mothers aged 18-40 (M = 32.41, SD = 5.09) participated in the cross-sectional study. The results of the cluster analysis revealed the existence of five different parental identity statuses: Achievement, Foreclosure, Searching moratorium, Diffussion, and Moratorium. Significant differences were also observed between parents with different statuses in terms of borderline and depressive symptoms. The study confirmed predictions that mental health difficulties among parents co-occur with low identification with parenthood.

On the Combined Role of Work Engagement and Burnout Among Novice Nurses: A Longitudinal Person-Centered Analysis

This study examined the profiles taken by global and specific facets of work engagement and burnout among a sample of novice ( M tenure = 3.77 years) nurses ( n = 570; 88.4% females; M age = 29.3 years). This study also investigated the role of psychological need satisfaction in the prediction of profile membership, and the implications of these profiles for attitudinal (job satisfaction), behavioral (in-role and extra-role performance, absenteeism, and presenteeism) and health (perceived health difficulties) outcomes. Latent profile analyses revealed six profiles: High Global Engagement and Low Global Burnout, Moderately High Global Engagement and Moderately Low Global Burnout, Low Dedication and Efficacy and Highly Cynical, Dedicated but Exhausted Burned-Out, Low Efficacy Burned-Out, and Very Low Global Engagement and Very High Global Burnout. Although these profiles were replicated over a 1-year period, profile membership was only weakly stable. The most beneficial outcomes were observed in the High Global Engagement and Low Global Burnout profile, and the most detrimental in the Very Low Global Engagement and Very High Global Burnout profile. Need satisfaction was also associated with profile membership, although associations were stronger for global levels of need satisfaction than for specific levels of autonomy, competence, and relatedness need satisfaction.

Uncovering latent profiles of ICT self-concept among adults in Germany and their relation with gender

ABSTRACT Self-concept related to the use of information and communication technology (ICT-SC) is reflected in how people feel and behave when confronted with digital technologies. Although evidence from variable-centered analyses suggests a hierarchical and multidimensional structure of ICT-SC in heterogeneous populations, it is not yet known whether different profiles of general ICT-SC and specific ICT-SC domains (communicate, process and store, generate content, safe application, solve problems) exist. This study aims to extend previous research using person-centered analyses and to examine whether different profiles of ICT-SC can be identified in a heterogeneous adult population (18–69 years) from Germany and how these profiles relate to gender. Results of a latent profile analysis (German quota sample, N = 369) indicate a reliable three-profile solution. Profile I (n = 48) is characterised by rather low ICT-SC with relative profile strengths in the verbal-interactive domains (communicate, process and store). Profile II (n = 149) is characterised by low to average ICT-SC across ICT-SC domains. Profile III (n = 172) is characterised by high ICT-SC with profile strengths in the technical-analytical domains (safe application, solve problems). Gender did not correlate significantly with profile membership. We discuss the practical implications of the results for ICT-SC interventions and suggest directions for future research.

Large-scale assessment of German dairy farmers´ personality and resulting ideas for improving veterinary consultancy.

The here presented investigation was part of a cross-sectional study on dairy cattle health aiming to identify risk factors for animal health and welfare. Within this setting, we chose a social-science related approach to explore German dairy farmers' personality composition in a variable-centered and person-centered approach. We have assessed German dairy farmers' personalities based on the HEXACO model of personality in three representative regional samples. In total, 765 farm visits were conducted within two and half years (north n = 253; east n = 252; south n = 260). The proportions of returned questionnaires eligible for analysis (i.e., answered completely) were 71.54% (n = 181), 68.25% (n = 172) and 86.92% (n = 226) for the northern, eastern and southern samples, respectively. Variable-centered personality analyses revealed the farmers' structure of personality to be similar within all samples. Overall, we found the farmers to be averagely emotional and agreeable, whereas the results indicate tendencies for a pronounced display of extraversion, conscientiousness and openness to experience. Compared to the German general population, dairy farmers appear to be more extraverted and open to experience. We could not deduce a subcategorization of farmers in different latent personality profiles in person-centered analysis. Our findings provide a basis for further evaluation of the farmers´ personality as an influencing factor for farm outcomes (e.g., productivity, animal health and welfare). Furthermore, we provide a glance and encourage interdisciplinary research to link personality information with communication theory aiming to enhance effectiveness of veterinary consultancy.

The Inventory of Personality Organization: A valid instrument to detect the severity of personality dysfunction.

In the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), the severity of personality dysfunction became the central dimension of personality disorder's (PDs) definition, besides the trait domain qualifiers. Personality functioning, also known as personality organization (PO), is becoming an increasingly important concept in administering, predicting, and measuring severity and nature of personality disturbance. Otto Kernberg and his team developed several tools to measure personality impairment. The Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO) is a self-report rating scale for the measurement of PO. Aim of this study was to identify severity groups according to the level of PO and to explore their validity. A clinical sample of 118 patients was recruited from a 4-weeks in-patient cognitive psychotherapy program. Beside the IPO, Structured Clinical Interview for the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-IV.) Axis I and II, Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and Dissociative Experience scale (DES). Two types of analyses were conducted: a person-centered (latent profile) analysis and various variable-centered tests to confirm the factor structure of IPO and calculate group differences. The three-factor (CFI = 0.990, TLI = 0.990, RMSEA = 0.022, SRMR = 0.089) and the five-factor (CFI = 0.995, TLI = 0.995, RMSEA = 0.014, SRMR = 0.090) models of the IPO was supported. Latent class analysis identified three subgroups of PO: "Well-integrated," "Moderately integrated," and "Disintegrated" classes. There were no significant differences between the three classes in the number of Axis 1 diagnoses (p = 0.354; η2 = 0.01). Group differences in the number of PDs, the number of PD symptoms as well as in the presence of borderline and depressive PD were significant (all p < 0.001; V = 0.35-0.42; η2 = 0.15-0.26). Persons with more severe PO problem level had higher rates of psychopathological symptoms, state and trait anger, and dissociative characteristics (all p < 0.001; η2 = 0.13-0.36). The IPO can be an appropriate instrument to measure the severity of personality disorganization and to classify participants along a continuum of severity in this regard. Our results present further evidence that the severity of personality dysfunction, the central dimension of the ICD-11 and the Alternative Model for PDs is detectable with an instrument, the IPO, that was initially developed to detect the disturbances in PO.

Comprehension of argumentation in mathematical text: what is the role of interest?

This article describes the research design and findings from a use-inspired study of online text-based mathematics resources. We sought to understand whether and how existing mathematics interest, together with the learner characteristics of prior coursework in mathematics and proof scheme, influenced comprehension of mathematical argumentation and triggered interest in two types of mathematics text: (1) text featuring concrete, real-world applications (public domain) and (2) text with abstract and generalized modes of expression and content (abstract domain). Using an online assessment and person-centered analyses, we studied 64 (32 M, 32 F) undergraduate students who were and were not pursuing advanced mathematics coursework. Cluster analysis revealed two participant groups. Less mathematically immersed (LMI) participants improved comprehension of mathematical argumentation when working with public domain text, performing comparably to the more mathematically immersed (MMI) cluster in this domain; those in the MMI cluster performed comparably across text domains. In addition, LMI participants were more likely to identify public domain text as more interesting than abstract text, and they also were more likely than those in the MMI group to explain this by citing public rather than abstract domain reasons. Taken together, study findings suggest that interest in coordination with other learner characteristics scaffolds comprehension of mathematical argumentation. This study makes contributions to interest theory, understanding the role of interest in comprehension of mathematical argumentation, and ways in which practitioners might leverage student interest to promote comprehension.

Identifying latent profiles of emotion dysregulation in a sample of primarily Black women with trauma exposure

BackgroundEmotion dysregulation (ED) is a heterogenous, multi-dimensional transdiagnostic risk factor relevant to the development and maintenance of both internalizing and externalizing psychopathology, especially for those who have experienced trauma. The goals of the current study were to use person-centered analyses to identify distinct profiles of individuals characterized by unique patterns of ED dimensions, and to examine differences in internalizing and externalizing symptoms in a community sample. MethodsParticipants (n = 783, 97% Black, 93% women) were recruited from an urban safety net hospital with high rates of trauma exposure. Latent profile analysis was used to uncover unique patterns of ED and multinomial logistic regression to evaluate the conditional distribution of our correlates across profiles. ResultsThe best-fitting model uncovered four classes: Low ED (42%), Low Awareness/Clarity (34%), Low Impulse Control (17%), and High ED (6%). All classes differed in terms of internalizing symptoms (anxiety sensitivity, depression, PTSD), with classes characterized by higher ED reporting more severe symptoms. For externalizing symptoms (food addiction behaviors, alcohol and drug abuse, aggressive behavior), the Low ED class reported fewer symptoms than all other profiles, while Low Awareness/Clarity, Low Impulse Control, and High ED did not differ from each other. ConclusionsPatterns of emotion dysregulation ought to be assessed and considered as treatment targets for those experiencing both internalizing and externalizing psychopathology symptoms.

Managerial predictors and motivational outcomes of workers’ psychological need states profiles: A two-wave examination

ABSTRACT This study addressed the lack, in the work context, of a comprehensive time-lagged examination of the core constructs (interpersonal behaviors, psychological need states, and motivation) underlying Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Specifically, this research relied on person-centered analyses to gain a better understanding of how the distinct components of psychological need states (satisfaction, frustration, and unfulfillment of the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness) combine to produce distinct profiles of employees. We also documented the stability of these profiles over time and their associations with theoretically-relevant predictors (supervisors’ supportive, thwarting, and indifferent behaviors) and outcomes (work motivation). Questionnaire surveys were completed twice over the course of three months by a sample of 590 French employees. Six profiles, characterized by distinct configurations of global and specific need constructs were identified and found to be stable over time. Supervisors’ supportive, thwarting, and indifferent behaviors showed well-differentiated patterns of association with these profiles. Finally, employees’ global levels of self-determination and specific levels of motivational regulations differed as a function of profile membership. Altogether, results from this research suggest that SDT’s explanatory framework may be expanded to encompass the key role played by need indifferent behaviors and employees’ experiences of need unfulfillment.

80.2 Hypothesis-Free: What We Can Learn About Mental Health From Person-Centered Analyses

Person-centered analytic methods, such as latent profile analysis (LPA), can be used to uncover latent (or unobserved) groups within heterogeneous mental health symptom data. Participants in this seminar will learn: 1) the basics of LPA; 2) LPA application to understand transdiagnostic symptoms in ASD and ADHD; and 3) LPA application to identify children and youth for mental health service referral during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clarifying longitudinal relations between individuals' support for human rights and climate change beliefs

The devastating effects of climate change on human rights has led the United Nations to recommend a human rights-based approach to climate action. However, no research has examined the relations between support for human rights and climate change beliefs, which is critical if such a rights-based approach is to receive widespread public backing. Here we combine variable- and person-centred analyses to investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal relations between support for human rights and climate change beliefs/concern with data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (N ≈ 17,656). Cross-lagged analyses indicate that support for the broader human rights item about the right to food, clothing, housing and medicine had a bidirectional relationship with climate change beliefs/concern. A latent profile analysis then revealed four distinct subgroups of New Zealanders whose climate change beliefs/concern differed between subgroups, while all subgroups consistently supported human rights. Lastly, latent transition analysis revealed that, although two of these distinct profiles were relatively unstable across the one-year period, New Zealanders generally moved from profiles of lower to higher levels of climate beliefs/concern. Findings reveal novel implications for a rights-based climate change response.

Experiences of Community Resilience and Inequity Among LGBTQ+ People: A Person-Centered Analysis

A diverse sample of LGBTQ+ people ( N = 527) was recruited to explore sexual and gender diverse peoples’ co-occurring experiences with community resilience resources and inequity within the LGBTQ+ community. Using latent profile analysis, four distinctive latent profiles emerged: Marginalized, Ambivalent, Disengaged, and Embedded. Beta regression analyses suggested that identity centrality played a pivotal role in a participants’ membership to a given profile. Additionally, plurisexual and gender diverse identities may be associated with less likelihood of membership in profiles that were high in LGBTQ+ community resilience resources. Profile membership was also associated with mental health, internalized minority stress, and LGBTQ+ identity affirmation. The present study assists in expanding the understanding of co-occurring processes (i.e., community resilience resources and inequity within the LGBTQ+ community) and how they link to mental health, internalized minority stress, and positive LGBTQ+ identity outcomes for sexual and gender diverse people. We discuss implications for practice, education, training, and research.

Novel Applications of Mixture Modeling to Organizational Research

This symposium highlights ways in which organizational researchers can utilize person-centered mixture models in their work. Specifically, this symposium illustrates the application of latent profile analysis (LPA) at both the event and person levels, as well as its extension to also include predictors and outcomes of profile membership. Investigating Newcomer Employees’ Commitment Profiles: A Person-Centered Approach Presenter: Simon Houle; Concordia U. Presenter: Arya Shafei; Concordia U. Presenter: Istvan Toth-Kiraly; Concordia U. Presenter: Alexandre Morin; Concordia U. Understanding Reluctant Leaders: A Person-Centered Approach to Examine Leader Emergence Presenter: Michaela Scanlon; Smith School of Business, Queen's U. Presenter: Ann-Renee Blais; Statistics Canada Presenter: Cindy D. Suurd Ralph; Royal Military College of Canada Presenter: Alyssa Grocutt; Smith School of Business, Queen's U. Presenter: Shani Pupco; Smith School of Business, Queen's U. Presenter: Kaylee Somerville; Smith School of Business, Queen's U. The Daily Grind: Multilevel LPA of Employees’ Motivation During the Work Day Presenter: Matthew McLarnon; Mount Royal U. Presenter: James M. Diefendorff; U. of Akron Presenter: Megan Nolan; - A Person-Centered Analysis of Multi-Domain Leader Identity Construction Presenter: Greg Thrasher; Oakland U. Presenter: Benjamin Biermeir-Hanson; Radford U.