Random Intercept Cross-lagged Panel Model Research Articles

Day-to-day associations between mindfulness and perceived stress: insights from random intercept cross-lagged panel modeling.

Mindfulness is frequently seen as a protective factor of stress, but self-report measures of mindfulness may overlap with other related constructs, such as mental health, and could thus not only be a predictor, but also an outcome of stress. This study thus aimed to examine the longitudinal bidirectional associations between the use and perceived helpfulness of the four mindfulness facets Observe, Describe, Nonjudge, and Nonreact with daily perceived stress. Participants from a large (N = 1,276) mixed student and community group sample filled out a brief daily diary over the time span of 7 days. Bidirectional cross-lagged effects were investigated using the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model, an extension of the traditional cross-lagged panel model that allows to differentiate between stable between-unit differences and time-varying within-unit dynamics. In addition, we controlled for several baseline and sociodemographic confounders. At the within-subject level, the use of Actaware was associated with higher perceived stress on the next day (β = 0.03, p = 0.029). The use (β = -0.04, p = 0.025) and perceived helpfulness (β = -0.05, p = 0.014) of Nonreact were associated with lower perceived stress on the next day. In turn, perceived stress was associated with lower perceived helpfulness of Describe (β = -0.04, p = 0.037) and Nonreact (β = -0.03, p = 0.038) on the next day. In addition, there were several residual correlations between mindfulness facets and perceived stress within days. At the between-subject level, there was a positive association between the random intercept of Describe and daily stress (r = 0.15, p = 0.003). In addition, while baseline perceived stress was negatively associated with the random intercepts of the mindfulness facets, two baseline components of mindfulness were not associated with the random intercept of perceived stress. On the currently investigated time scale, our results challenge prior results and assumptions regarding mindfulness as a buffering and protective factor against daily stress. With the exception of Nonreact, mindfulness was either positively associated with perceived stress, or in turn perceived stress appeared to interfere with the ability to stay mindful in daily life.

New parents’ sleep, movement, health, and well-being across the postpartum period

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study was to examine changes and the bi-directional relationship in sleep and movement, and health and well-being among new parents and differences by sex. Methods This secondary data analysis included both conditions from a randomized control trial to improve new parents’physical activity [PA] and recruited couples. Parents (n = 181, 117 couples represented 31.5 ± 4.4 years, 51.3% women, 83.3% White) completed questionnaires on regular overnight sleep duration, PA, mental health (perceived stress), physical health (physical quality of life [PQoL]), and well-being (life satisfaction) at 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-month postpartum. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were stratified by sex to examine changes in sleep and PA with health and well-being across time. Results Sleep and stress were interrelated at different times for fathers (2 months), and mothers (8 months). Sleep and PQoL improved across time, with mothers reporting less sleep than fathers at 4 and 6 months. PQoL at 4 months was related to MVPA at 6-months. Life satisfaction and PA at 2 months was related to PA at 4 months. Conclusion Mothers and fathers experienced different sleep and stress trajectories. Mental health improved postpartum with early connections to PA. Supporting the 24-hour movement behavior cycle and mental health across the parenthood transition may benefit couples.

Emotions or cognitions first? Longitudinal relations between executive functions and emotion regulation in childhood.

Executive functions and emotion regulation develop from early childhood to adolescence and are predictive of important psychosocial outcomes. However, despite the correlation between the two regulatory capacities, whether they are prospectively related in school-aged children remains unknown, and the direction of effects is uncertain. In this study, a sample drawn from two birth cohorts in Norway was biennially examined between the ages of 6 and 14 (n = 852, 50.1% girls, 93% Norwegian). Parents completed the Emotion Regulation Checklist, and teachers completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. A random intercept cross-lagged panel model revealed that improved emotion regulation predicted increased executive functioning to the same extent throughout development, whereas enhanced executive functioning was unrelated to future changes in emotion regulation.

Vulnerable self-disclosure co-develops in adolescent friendships: Developmental foundations of emotional intimacy

This study examines the development of vulnerable self-disclosure in supportive interactions from ages 13 to 29. A diverse community sample ( N = 184; 85 boys 99 girls; 58% white, 29% Black, 13% other identity groups) participated in annual observed interactions with close friends and romantic partners. Participants were observed as they sought and provided support to their best friends each year from age 13 to 18, and as they sought support from their romantic partners from age 19 to 29. Random intercept cross-lagged panel models were used to parse markers of within-individual change in vulnerable self-disclosure observed annually across ages 13 to 18. A follow-up regression model also investigated cascading associations from vulnerable self-disclosure in adolescent friendships to vulnerable self-disclosure in adult romantic relationships. When adolescents sought support, they demonstrated greater-than-expected increases in self-disclosure each year when their best friends demonstrated relatively high self-disclosure. For girls in this sample, when providing support, they demonstrated greater-than-expected decreases in self-disclosure each year when their best friends demonstrated relatively high self-disclosure. Adolescents whose friends disclosed highly to them also tended to express more vulnerability with romantic partners in adulthood. Post-hoc analyses investigate the role of friendship stability and gender as potential moderators of self-disclosure development. The best friendship, a key source of emotional support, serves as a foundational context for learning appropriate use of vulnerable self-disclosure when seeking and providing emotional support, which persists across time and relationships.

Unpacking the Myth in the Associations Between Self-control and Gaming Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Comparison Between Traditional and Random Intercept Cross-lagged Panel Model Analyses

AbstractInternet gaming is becoming increasingly popular; however, children and adolescents are highly vulnerable to gaming disorder due to the underdevelopment of cognitive control. Longitudinal research providing empirical evidence confirming the stability and direction of the association between self-control and gaming disorder is scarce. This study is aimed at clarifying whether prospective relationships exist between self-control and gaming disorder in children and adolescents or whether they are associated due to common causes. We examined the temporal dynamics of the associations between self-control and gaming disorder symptom severity using a traditional cross-lagged panel model (CLPM; aggregating between- and within-person variance) and a random intercept CLPM (RI-CLPM; disaggregating between- and within-person effects) with three-annual wave data from a large cohort of primary and secondary students (N = 1359, mean age 12.67 (SD 1.40), 834 (61.7%) girls). The traditional CLPM indicated a unidirectional negative relationship from self-control to later gaming disorder (B with 95% confidence interval [CI] =  − 0.12 [− 0.19, − 0.040]), whereas the RI-CLPM analysis revealed no prospective relationship between self-control and gaming disorder (95% CIs of Bs all contain 0), indicating that self-control was neither the cause nor the result of gaming disorder in children and adolescents. Our study revealed that the nature of the relationship between self-control and gaming disorder tends to be correlational but not causal. The potential common underlying factors for future research are discussed.

Anxiety, Sleep Problems, and Vigorous Physical Activity: Bidirectional Associations from Early Adolescence to Early Adulthood in Swedish Adolescents.

Anxiety symptoms and sleep problems typically emerge during adolescence and are frequently intertwined. However, there is a dearth of knowledge concerning their reciprocal influence and whether physical activity might play a protective role in this relationship. The present study aims at filling this gap exploring also the moderating role of sex. 915 13-year-old Swedish adolescents (56% girls) answered a survey conducted four times: at ages 13 (T1), 16 (T2), 19 (T3), and 22 (T4). A random intercept cross-lagged panel model was used. At within-levels, sleep problems and anxiety symptoms had a bidirectional positive association in middle adolescence. Vigorous physical activity and anxiety symptoms showed a reciprocal negative association from middle adolescence. Vigorous physical activity and sleep problems were reciprocally associated only in late adolescence. Associations were the same for girls and boys. This study demonstrated that the relations between anxiety symptoms, sleep problems, and vigorous physical activity cannot be understood without adopting a developmental perspective and that middle adolescence is a crucial period to plan interventions to reduce anxiety symptoms and sleep problems.

Associations between interconnectedness, compassion, and participation in collective action for people with mental illness: A random-intercept cross-lagged panel modeling approach.

The present study aims to prospectively investigate the relationships between interconnectedness, compassion, and participation in private and public forms of collective action for people with mental illness. Public form refers to collective action at the macrolevel such as large-scale protests and demonstrations going on in the communities. Private form refers to collective action happening at the microlevel that targets promoting awareness of social inequalities and positive changes among personal social circles, such as calling out microaggressions or correcting others' stigmatizing language. Eligible responses from 501 participants were collected at baseline, with 345 and 318 participants retained at 6-month and 12-month follow-up assessments, respectively. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were conducted to investigate the mediating role of compassion in the relationships between interconnectedness and participation in private and public forms of collective action. Interconnectedness was consistently associated with a higher frequency of participation in private form, but not public form, of collective action at subsequent time points. Contrary to the hypothesis, results showed the nonsignificant mediating effect of compassion between interconnectedness and participation in both forms of collective action. The present study highlights the potential of interconnectedness in promoting a private form of collective action for the rights of people with mental illness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The dynamic and reciprocal relationship between perceived everyday discrimination and cognitive function in later life

Objectives This study, based on socioemotional selectivity theory and cognitive theory, investigates the dynamic and reciprocal relationship between perceived discrimination and cognitive function in later life. Methods Data were drawn from four waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018). A total of 4,125 people who were 51 and older were included. Cognitive function was measured by the telephone interview for cognitive status (TICS-27). Perceived discrimination was measured using scores of the perceived everyday discrimination scale. Random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) was utilized. The model was adjusted for a range of covariates. Subgroup analysis by ethnoracial groups was conducted. Results Cross-sectionally, while lower cognitive function was associated with higher perceived discrimination, this relationship was unidirectional. Longitudinally, higher perceived discrimination predicted lower cognitive function in later waves only among non-Hispanic White individuals. Conclusion Results suggested that a decline in cognitive function may precede and contribute to the worsening of perceived discrimination, which may result in further decline in cognitive function. Lifetime experience of discrimination was discussed as a possible source of the racial/ethnic variations in the relationship. Further study is needed to examine whether this relationship holds among people with cognitive impairment and dementia.

The Vicious Cycle between Loneliness and Problematic Smartphone Use among Adolescents: A Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model.

Despite extensive research on the psychological impacts of digital technology, the nuanced dynamics between adolescent loneliness and problematic smartphone use, particularly across different educational levels and genders, remain underexplored. This study aims to fill this gap by employing a Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model to dissect the bidirectional relationship between loneliness and problematic smartphone use among adolescents, with a focus on the moderating roles of educational levels and gender. Engaging 3132 students from various educational institutions in China, the research conducted a three-wave longitudinal analysis across 2022-2023. The final number of participants included 1120 adolescents (53.5% female; age in 2022: M = 14.57 years, SD = 1.57). Results reveal that loneliness significantly predicts problematic smartphone use, but not vice versa, highlighting a unidirectional influence. The study uncovers crucial differences across educational levels and gender, emphasizing the stronger effect of loneliness on problematic smartphone use among junior high students and female adolescents. These findings underscore the complexity of adolescent loneliness and its relationship with digital behavior, suggesting a need for tailored interventions considering both gender and developmental stages.

Reciprocal relationships among reading and vocabulary over time: a longitudinal study from grade 1 to 5

AbstractReading comprehension is contingent on both oral language comprehension and word-level reading ability, skills that are thought to be intrinsically related in the early school years. However, while previous studies examining bidirectional relationships among oral vocabulary and reading development have generally found an association between word recognition and subsequent vocabulary skills, they have yielded inconsistent results regarding whether vocabulary is linked to later word recognition. In this longitudinal study (n = 176), we assessed reciprocal relationships between expressive and receptive vocabulary and word recognition measured yearly from Grade 1 to 5. We compared results from a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) to a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM), an analytic approach which permits disaggregation of variance between children in the constructs of interest from year-to-year fluctuations within children. Expressive and receptive vocabulary were examined in separate models. Results showed that the RI-CLPMs provided a better fit to the data in contrast to the CLPMs, and provided evidence of reciprocal relationships between word recognition and both receptive and expressive vocabulary. Significant between-child variance was shown for vocabulary but not word recognition. These findings confirm that reading and vocabulary skills build upon one another across the primary years, and each is an important area of classroom instruction focus. Early and regular screening measures may serve to inform the development of timely and appropriate support and intervention.

Parenting, Coparenting, and Adolescents’ Sense of Autonomy and Belonging After Divorce

Although there is ample evidence on the importance of experiencing autonomy and belonging for positive adolescent development and the supporting role of parents in this regard, most knowledge stems from intact families. As many youth grow up with divorced parents, this study tested longitudinal links between warm and autonomy supportive parenting and coparental cooperation and conflict on the one hand, and adolescents’ post-divorce autonomy and belonging on the other. Data consisted of three-wave self-report data of 191 Dutch adolescents (Mage = 14.36, 61.3% girls) and 227 divorced parents (Mage = 46.08, 74% mothers). Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models showed stable between-family differences, with autonomy relating positively to coparenting and parental autonomy support, and belongingness associating positively solely with parenting. No significant effects were found within families, meaning that changes in (co)parental behaviors did not predict adolescents’ experiences of autonomy and belonging or vice versa.

Adolescents’ Preferences for Mainstream and Paraphilic Pornography and Sexual Health Components: Attention to Within-And Between-Person Dynamics Over Time

ABSTRACT Health communication scholars are becoming increasingly cognizant of the potential health implications of youths’ pornography consumption. However, while research on pornography viewing and adolescent health and development has become increasingly common, the possible importance of distinguishing between mainstream and paraphilic consumption and within-and-between person dynamics has been underemphasized. Accordingly, the present study explored relations between adolescents’ preferences for mainstream and paraphilic pornography and their sexual satisfaction and sexual arousability in three-wave panel data using random intercept cross-lagged panel models. At a between-person level, only mainstream pornography viewing was positively related to adolescents’ sexual arousability. No relations were found between mainstream and paraphilic pornography viewing and sexual satisfaction at a between-person level. Results further revealed that an increased exposure to mainstream pornography and paraphilic pornography was not associated with sexual arousability and sexual satisfaction at the individual level. Null findings regarding paraphilic pornography viewing may be explained by the presence of a floor effect. Further, no differences in the investigated relations were found between sexually inexperienced and experienced adolescents, and between single adolescents and adolescents in a relationship. The findings are discussed in light of recent commentary on the uses of random-intercept cross-lagged panel models in the communication discipline.

A reciprocal association between interpersonal relationship quality and student's positive affect: Athree-wave random intercept cross-lagged study in a Chinese primary mathematics learning context.

This study adopted a three-wave random intercept cross-lagged panel model to explore the longitudinal reciprocal relationships between (a) the teacher-student relationship (TSR) quality and (b) the parent-child relationship (PCR) quality and positive affect among Chinese primary school students. Two primary school student samples, including 3505 and 2505 students, were tracked with their perceived relationship quality with math teachers and parents and their positive affect levels in mathematics learning over three academic years. The results demonstrated that more closeness with parents could significantly predict students' subsequent higher level of positive affect in mathematics learning. However, more closeness with their math teachers did not show significant prediction. Meanwhile, more conflict with math teachers and parents could significantly predict their subsequent lower degree of perceived positive affect in mathematics learning. That is, a reciprocal association lines in the PCR quality and positive affect, whereas only a unidirectional association exists between the TSR and positive affect. The predictions of the experienced positive affect on their perceived interpersonal relationships with math teachers and parents were stronger than those in the reverse association. This study identifies that while the effects of closeness with math teachers and parents on positive affect in students' math learning differ, conflict with math teachers and parents indeed harms students' experienced positive affect in math learning. More attention should also be paid to fostering positive affect in math learning.

Depression and Personality Traits Across Adolescence-Within-Person Analyses of a Birth Cohort.

Depressive symptoms and personality traits covary in adolescents, but our understanding of the nature of this relation is limited. Whereas a predisposition explanation posits that specific personality traits increase the vulnerability for developing depression, a scar explanation proposes that depression may alter premorbid personality. Attempts to test these explanatory models have relied on analyses that conflate within-person changes and between-person differences, which limits the implications that can be drawn. Moreover, research on the early adolescent years is lacking. The present study therefore examined within-person associations between depressive symptoms and Big Five personality traits across ages 10 to 16. Children (n = 817; 49.9% boys) and parents from two birth cohorts in Trondheim, Norway, were assessed biennially with clinical interviews capturing symptoms of major depressive disorder and dysthymia, and self-reported Big Five personality traits. Analyses were conducted using a random intercept cross-lagged panel model, which accounts for all unmeasured time-invariant confounding effects. Increased Neuroticism predicted an increased number of depressive symptoms-and increased depressive symptoms predicted increased Neuroticism-across ages 10 to 14. Moreover, increased depressive symptoms forecast reduced Extraversion across ages 10 to 16, and reduced Conscientiousness from ages 12 to 14. Increases in Neuroticism may contribute to the development of depressive symptoms-in line with the predisposition model. As regards the scar model, depression may have an even wider impact on personality traits: increasing Neuroticism and reducing Extraversion and Conscientiousness. These effects may already be present in the earliest adolescent years.

Examining the Longitudinal Bi-Directional Associations of Friend Engagement, Social Functioning, and Depression.

Various components of social functioning predict depression and these associations can vary by gender. Bi-directional associations may be important to consider as social factors may influence depressive symptoms while depressive symptoms may impact social factors. Most previous longitudinal research examining bi-directional effects has traditionally used the cross-lagged panel model (CLPM), which has some inherent weaknesses. This study sought to apply a more comprehensive analysis to examine bi-directional associations between friend engagement, social functioning, and depressive symptoms. Random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) were tested on three waves from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (N = 5890). Average levels of social functioning were positively associated with friend engagement and negatively associated with depression. Fluctuations in social functioning and friend engagement were negatively associated with same-wave depressive symptoms. Lastly, depression was predicted by previous fluctuations in social functioning, although the findings varied by gender. This study showed that the relationships between social factors and depression are apparent within and across large time intervals, even while controlling for between-person associations. These findings add further support to the need to attend to social life as a predictor of depression in older adults. Future research could improve upon this research by examining the characteristics of the friendship interactions and including more diverse samples.

The longitudinal association of adverse events and working memory among preschoolers: A random-intercept cross-lag analysis.

Past research examining the relation between adversity and working memory (WM) has found mixed results and has been limited by methodological issues (e.g., cross-sectional studies, limited measurement of adversity). The present study examined how adverse life events may impact WM among preschoolers who live in financially underresourced families and communities longitudinally over the course of 1 year. The sample included 325 children (aged 3-5 at baseline), recruited because of their increased risk of exposure to high levels of adversity, and their primary caregivers. Children completed WM tasks and caregivers reported on their child's exposure to adverse events in the past 6 months across three time points, each time point occurring 6 months apart. Associations between adverse life events and WM over time were explored using a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model. No relations between preschoolers' adverse event exposure and WM (B = 0.05-0.75, p = .056-.764) were found across the three time points. Results indicated that at the individual level, when controlling for stable covariates, frequency of adverse life event exposure and WM abilities were unrelated to subsequent frequency of adverse event exposure and WM abilities. Findings suggest that WM may continue to develop typically, in the preschool years, despite exposure to adverse life events. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Is childhood lying shaped by callous-unemotional traits or does lie-telling make children more callous-unemotional? A longitudinal between- and within-person perspective.

The current study aims to advance knowledge on the causal interrelationship between childhood CU traits and lying both at a between- and a within-person perspective across a significant developmental period of mid-childhood to mid-adolescence. Cross-lagged panel models and Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were used to investigate the prospective associations between lying and the distinct subcomponents of CU traits, including Callousness, Uncaring, and Unemotional in a sample of 719 children (T1; Mage = 10.73 years, SDage = 1.38, range = 7-15 years, 54.4% girls) across four assessment points. Results supported large vulnerability effects at the between-person level across time, indicating that CU traits predominantly influence the subsequent development of lying, with Callousness and Uncaring showing most profound effects on subsequent developmental processes of lying. At the within-person level, fluctuations in CU traits and lying were overall meaningfully related, but no causal relationship could be empirically determined. These findings provide a differentiated etiological viewpoint on the intertwinement of CU traits and lying at a young age, and underscore the importance of an early identification of children with callous and uncaring tendencies in order to prevent more persistent lying in adolescence.

Online Self-Disclosure and Self-Concept Clarity Among Chinese Middle School Students: A Longitudinal Study.

The relationship between online self-disclosure and self-concept clarity has been previously examined through cross-sectional studies. This study examined causal connections between online self-disclosure and self-concept clarity among Chinese middle school students using longitudinal data collected over 18 months. Participants were 535 seventh-grade students aged 12-14 years (Mage = 12.93, SD = 0.54, 43.18% girls), assessed four times, six months apart. In a random intercept cross-lagged panel model, self-concept clarity significantly predicted online self-disclosure. Latent growth mixture modeling identified two distinct growth trajectories for both online self-disclosure (Rapid change, 7%; Slow change, 93%) and self-concept clarity (Rapid change, 8%; No change, 92%). Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that changes in self-concept clarity influenced the developmental trajectory profile of online self-disclosure. Although male and female students differed in online self-disclosure and self-concept clarity, gender differences in the developmental trajectory profiles of online self-disclosure and self-concept clarity were not significant. Supporting adolescents in developing a clear self-concept to mitigate risks associated with excessive online self-disclosure is important.

The Longitudinal Reciprocal Relationships of Tooth Brushing Behaviors Between Underserved Children and Their Caregivers.

Tooth brushing is effective in preventing early childhood caries. However, it is unclear how children's and caregiver's tooth brushing are reciprocally related. The current study investigated whether the longitudinal relationships between children and caregiver tooth brushing are moderated by a caregiver-targeted child oral health intervention and caregiver depression. Secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial that tested whether caregiver-targeted oral health text messages (OHT) outperformed child wellness text messages (CWT) on pediatric dental caries and oral health behaviors (n = 754, mean child age = 2.9 years, 56.2% Black, 68.3% <poverty level). Tooth brushing behaviors were self-reported by caregivers using a timeline follow-back method at baseline and 4, 12, and 24 months later. Caregiver depressive symptoms were self-reported at baseline. A multigroup random intercept cross-lagged panel model examined relationships between caregiver and child tooth brushing for four post hoc groupings of condition: OHT versus CWT, and caregiver depressive symptoms: high versus low. Within-participants analyses revealed that caregiver tooth brushing at Months 4 and 12 positively predicted their child's tooth brushing at Months 12 and 24 for caregivers in the OHT condition with low depressive symptoms (i.e., moderation by depressive symptoms and condition). Similarly, children's tooth brushing at Month 4 positively predicted caregiver tooth brushing at Month 12 for caregivers in the OHT condition with low depressive symptoms. There were no significant associations among participants in the CWT condition, regardless of depressive symptoms. Child and caregiver tooth brushing have reciprocal influences, but only for those in the OHT condition with low depressive symptoms.

The longitudinal relationship between life events and loneliness in adolescence: A twin study.

The aim of the study was to examine associations between life events and self-assessed loneliness in adolescence. We used data from a Norwegian population-based twin sample including seven birth cohorts (N = 2,879, 56% females). The participants completed self-report questionnaires three times throughout adolescence, with 2 years in between (i.e., 12-18 years old at Wave 1). By using a random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM), we were able to separate stable influences in the measured constructs from the within-person changes at each measurement occasion. In addition, using data from twins allowed us to examine to what degree the associations between life events and loneliness were genetic and/or environmental in nature. The results showed moderate stability of both loneliness and aggregation scores of life events throughout adolescence. The life events were assigned to clusters based on their independence (i.e., events considered dependent or independent on a person's behavior) and desirability (i.e., positive or negative). The time-stable between-person variance in all three measures, loneliness and person-dependent positive and negative life events, could almost exclusively be accounted for by genetic factors. However, as expected, also shared environmental factors influenced person-independent life events. The associations between time-stable between-person variance in loneliness and life events were small, and nearly exclusively due to shared genetic influences. Furthermore, life events do not seem to predict changes in loneliness or vice versa. In conclusion, the self-reported levels of loneliness throughout adolescence seems to be independent of life events. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).