Random Intercept Cross-lagged Panel Model Research Articles

Purpose in Life Links Positive Aging Views to Life Satisfaction: A Within-Person Analysis Spanning 13 Years.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between positive perceptions of aging, purpose in life, and life satisfaction in older adults. It was hypothesized that purpose in life mediates the relationship between positive perceptions of one's aging and life satisfaction. This hypothesis was tested in a sample of older American adults from four waves of the Health and Retirement Study collected at 4-year intervals between 2008 and 2020 (N = 11,546, mean age in 2008 = 62.772). The random intercept cross-lagged panel model was used to separate within-person and between-person sources of variance. Mediation was tested at the longitudinal within-person level and was supported. Results suggest that an increase in positive perceptions of aging is associated with a future increase in purpose in life, which in turn is associated with higher future levels of life satisfaction. The findings inform interventions promoting positive aging, purpose, and life satisfaction in older adults.

Bidirectional associations between hearing difficulty and cognitive function in Chinese adults: a longitudinal study.

Middle-aged and older adults frequently experience hearing loss and a decline in cognitive function. Although an association between hearing difficulty and cognitive function has been demonstrated, its temporal sequence remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated whether there are bidirectional relationships between hearing difficulty and cognitive function and explored the mediating role of depressive symptoms in this relationship. We used the cross-lagged panel model and the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model to look for any possible two-way link between self-reported hearing difficulty and cognitive function. To investigate depressive symptoms' role in this association, a mediation analysis was conducted. The sample was made up of 4,363 adults aged 45 and above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS; 2011-2018; 44.83% were women; mean age was 56.16 years). One question was used to determine whether someone had a hearing impairment. The tests of cognitive function included episodic memory and intelligence. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, which consists of 10 items, was used to measure depressive symptoms. A bidirectional association between hearing and cognition was observed, with cognition predominating (Wald χ2 (1) = 7.241, p < 0.01). At the between-person level, after controlling for potential confounders, worse hearing in 2011 predicted worse cognitive function in 2013 (β = -0.039, p < 0.01) and vice versa (β = -0.041, p < 0.01) at the between-person level. Additionally, there was no corresponding cross-lagged effect of cognitive function on hearing difficulty; rather, the more hearing difficulty, the greater the cognitive decline at the within-person level. According to the cross-lagged mediation model, depressive symptoms partially mediates the impact of cognitive function on subsequent hearing difficulty (indirect effect: -0.003, bootstrap 95% confidence interval: -0.005, -0.001, p < 0.05), but not the other way around. These results showed that within-person relationships between hearing impairment and cognitive function were unidirectional, while between-person relationships were reciprocal. Setting mental health first may be able to break the vicious cycle that relates hearing loss to cognitive decline. Comprehensive long-term care requires services that address depressive symptoms and cognitive decline to be integrated with the hearing management.

An Examination of Bidirectional Associations Between Alcohol Use and Internalizing Symptoms Among Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

PurposeThis study explores the bidirectional association between internalizing symptoms and alcohol use over three years of the COVID-19 pandemic to examine whether alcohol consumption is associated with higher internalizing symptoms in the next year and vice versa. MethodsWe used linked data from a sample of 2,136 secondary school students who participated in three consecutive waves (2019–2020 [T1], 2020–2021 [T2], and 2021–2022 [T3]) of the Cannabis use, Obesity, Mental health, Physical activity, Alcohol use, Smoking, and Sedentary behaviour study during the pandemic. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model was used to characterize reciprocal linear relations between internalizing symptoms and alcohol use. ResultsThe findings suggest that students who reported higher levels of alcohol use at T1 experienced increased levels of depression and anxiety in the subsequent year (T2). However, this association was not observed from T2 to T3. Throughout the three-year period, depression and anxiety were not associated with later alcohol use. In males, alcohol use at T1 was a predictor of higher internalizing symptoms at T2 but not from T2 to T3. DiscussionThese results suggest time-sensitive impacts and notable gender differences in the relationship between internalizing symptoms and alcohol use over the pandemic. Given the complexity of impacts, ongoing evaluation of the impact of the pandemic on youth health behaviours is necessary to elucidate these unfolding relationships, especially as the pandemic continues to affect various psychosocial risk factors.

Dog owner mental health is associated with dog behavioural problems, dog care and dog-facilitated social interaction: a prospective cohort study

Despite numerous qualitative and cross-sectional studies investigating how dog-related factors may impact owners’ well-being, empirical studies to test these causal effects are lacking. This prospective cohort study examined the correlation and potential causal effect of 17 dog-related factors with six well-being outcomes (depression, anxiety, loneliness, suicidal ideation, hedonic well-being and eudaimonic well-being) in dog owners. Over a four-week period, 709 adult dog owners reported their weekly well-being and occurrence of each dog-related factor (e.g. how many times they ran with their dogs). A random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) with significance threshold set at 0.001 was used. Six factors correlated with poorer owner well-being (i.e. aggressive dog behaviour, fearful dog behaviour, poor dog health, failure to provide for the dog, lack of control over the dog, and dog presence). Only ‘friendly conversation with others due to the dog’ correlated with better well-being. Purposeful reductions in the frequency of dog behavioural and health-related issues are likely to improve owner well-being, as well as greater consistency in dog care (i.e. provide for the dog) and more engagement in friendly dog-facilitated social interactions. No potential causal effects were significant. Further studies investigating causal relationships are essential to improve people’s well-being through dog ownership.

The Longitudinal Associations Between Parental Autonomy Support, Autonomy and Peer Resistance.

Adolescents' autonomy is considered to be shaped within family and peer contexts. However, the specific dynamics of the within-person associations between parental autonomy support, adolescents' general autonomy, and peer resistance over time remain unclear. To address this, random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were employed in a sample of 290 Dutch youth in early adolescence (Mage = 11.58, SD = 0.44 at T1; 49.3% boys) and 220 Dutch youth in middle to late adolescence (Mage = 17.79, SD = 1.47 at T1; 25.0% boys), who were followed over two years across four time points. Results showed that changes in adolescents' general autonomy were concurrently associated with changes in their parental autonomy support and peer resistance at the within-person level. However, these associations were not observed longitudinally over a six-month period. These findings suggest that increases in supportive parenting and peer resistance co-occur with increases in adolescents' autonomy within individuals.

Mothers' depressive symptoms and children's behavioral adjustment: The role of negative parental emotional states.

The contribution of fathers and family dynamics to the deleterious effects of mothers' depressive symptoms on children's behavioral adjustment has been evaluated in this study. Using longitudinal data spanning from toddlerhood to grade school (N = 1,311), this study examined whether negative emotional states in both parents related to mothers' cumulative depressive symptoms during the early years of children were associated with children's later internalizing and externalizing problems in grade school. A random intercept cross-lagged panel model was used to segregate between- and within-individual effects. The results demonstrated that, independent of fathers' depressive symptoms, high levels of maternal cumulative depressive symptoms were positively associated with negative emotional states in both parents over time, which then independently mediated the longitudinal associations between mothers' depressive symptoms and children's subsequent behavioral maladjustment, particularly internalizing problems, at the between-individual trait level. The findings highlight the interdependence of family members from a longitudinal perspective and support the unique contributions of both parents' negative emotional states to better understand children's behavioral adjustment in the context of maternal depressive symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Between- and within-person longitudinal associations between personality traits and social support across relationships during older adulthood

The current study investigated how perceived social support was associated with personality trait development in a Swedish longitudinal sample ( n = 3914; mean age = 63.09 years) with six waves of data on individuals’ Big Five personality traits, and perceived support from family, friends, and a special someone. We employed random intercept cross-lagged panel models to consider the between- and within-person associations for these constructs over time. First, in almost all cases, between-person associations were found between the levels for personality traits and support variables. Moreover, findings did not differ much depending on the source of the relationship. Second, again in almost every model, significant within-person covariances were evidenced, suggesting that when individuals increased on support relative to their typical level at a given wave, they also tended to report higher levels than they typically do on these traits. Finally, however, little evidence was found for cross-lagged effects in either direction. Across models, only one cross-lagged association even reached significance. In sum, our findings support the close connection between personality and perceived social support in older adulthood, and they motivate future directions into when and why such associations occur using more proximal measurements.

Loneliness and cognitive function in older adults: Longitudinal analysis in 15 countries.

This study aims to evaluate the directionality of the association between loneliness and cognitive performance in older adults, accounting for confounding factors. Data were from 55,662 adults aged ≥ 50 years who participated in Waves 5-8 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Loneliness was assessed with the Three-Item Loneliness Scale (TILS) and with a one-item direct question. Cognitive performance was assessed with four measures: verbal fluency, numeracy, immediate recall, and delayed recall. Age, sex, geographical area, educational attainment, partnership status, depressive symptoms, and previous chronic diseases at baseline were used as covariates. We analyzed the associations with three-wave random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) and conducted age-stratified analysis among those younger versus older than 65 years. Full information maximum likelihood estimators were used to handle missing values in Waves 6-8 in the main analyses. We also conducted additional sensitivity analyses stratified by retirement status (retired vs. not) at baseline. At the within-person level, loneliness and cognitive performance were not associated with each other among those aged 50-64 years in the main time-lagged analysis. Among those aged ≥ 65 years, loneliness was associated with lower cognitive performance in the next wave in all four cognitive domains. In addition, lower verbal fluency predicted greater loneliness in the next waves among this age group. Similar patterns were found independently of retirement status at baseline. These results suggest that loneliness is a psychosocial risk factor for cognitive decline among older adults (≥ 65 years). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Student-teacher conflict or student-school conflict? Exploring bidirectional relationships between externalizing behavior and teacher conflict

The purpose of this study was to examine bidirectional relationships between student-teacher conflict and externalizing behavior in elementary school. A national sample of 9,663 kindergarten – third grade students (49% female; 51% White, non-Hispanic, 10% African American, 25% Hispanic, 9% Asian students) from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten Cohort of 2010-2011 were included. Using random intercept cross-lagged panel models, results indicated different patterns across sex. For boys, conflict demonstrated positive relationship with later externalizing behavior; whereas, for girls, there was not evidence of any cross-lagged effects. The article concludes with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

Examining the indirect effect of income on well-being via individual-based relative deprivation: Longitudinal mediation with a random intercept cross-lagged panel model.

Although the positive relationship between income and well-being is well established, the psychological mechanisms underlying this process are less understood. One underexplored explanation is that objective wealth (or lack thereof) fosters relative comparisons, which, in turn, predicts well-being. Extant work has, however, mostly focused on objective indicators of relative deprivation rather than on how people perceive their societal status. We address this oversight by examining the longitudinal indirect effects of income on well-being via perceived individual-based relative deprivation (IRD) using traditional and random intercept cross-lagged panel models. Averaged across 10 annual assessments in a nationwide longitudinal panel sample of adults (N = 66,560), our results revealed reliable indirect effects of income on well-being via IRD. Specifically, within-person increases in income predicted within-person decreases in IRD, which then predicted within-person increases in personal well-being over time. Our results replicated across robustness checks, including one using a general life satisfaction measure. We thus extend previous work by highlighting the need to consider one's perceptions of their relative societal position as a mechanism underlying the effects of income on well-being over time.

Primary affective systems and personality: Disentangling the within-person reciprocal relationships.

The present work investigated the dynamic relations between primary affective systems and FFM personality. Drawing from a sample of 220 participants completing surveys on four consecutive days, we used the random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) to investigate the associations between primary affective systems and personality traits. The following associations were identified: bidirectional associations between negative emotions and neuroticism, unidirectional associations from SEEKING to openness and from agreeableness to three primary affective systems. No significant associations were observed between extraversion and primary affective systems. Our findings highlight the importance of disentangling the within-person effects when examining the relationship between primary affective systems and personality.

The Long-Term Relationship Between Cannabis and Heroin Use: An 18- to 20-year Follow-Up of the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS).

Cannabis use is common among individuals with opioid use disorder, but it remains unclear whether cannabis use is associated with an increase or a reduction in illicit opioid use. To overcome limitations identified in previous longitudinal studies with limited follow-ups, the authors examined a within-person reciprocal relationship between cannabis and heroin use at several follow-ups over 18 to 20 years. The Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS) recruited 615 people with heroin dependence in 2001 and 2002 and reinterviewed them at 3, 12, 24, and 36 months as well as 11 and 18-20 years after baseline. Heroin and cannabis use were assessed at each time point using the Opiate Treatment Index. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model analysis was conducted to identify within-person relationships between cannabis use and heroin use at subsequent follow-ups. After accounting for a range of demographic variables, other substance use, and mental and physical health measures, an increase in cannabis use 24 months after baseline was significantly associated with an increase in heroin use at 36 months (estimate=0.21, SE=0.10). Additionally, an increase in heroin use at 3 months and 24 months was significantly associated with a decrease in cannabis use at 12 months (estimate=-0.27, SE=0.09) and 36 months (estimate=-0.22, SE=0.08). All other cross-lagged associations were not significant. Although there was some evidence of a significant relationship between cannabis and heroin use at earlier follow-ups, this was sparse and inconsistent across time points. Overall, there was insufficient evidence to suggest a unidirectional or bidirectional relationship between the use of these substances.

The reciprocal relationship between consensual sexting and peer support among adolescents: A three-wave longitudinal study

Adolescent sexting is often linked with negative peer outcomes, which are more pronounced for girls. However, existing research has generally mixed non-consensual sexting and consensual sexting, the latter of which could be even beneficial for adolescents' well-being. A longitudinal approach is necessary to address how the change in peer relationships may be the outcome of engaging in sexting, as well as its driver. Using a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) on a large, national, quota-based sample of Czech adolescents (N = 1,102, 11–16 years, 48.3% female) over three waves of data collection, we investigate the reciprocal relationship -between consensual sexting and peer support. To ensure that the outcomes do not differ by gender, we also test a multigroup model. Our results reveal no longitudinal relationship between consensual sexting and peer support, even after accounting for gender and age differences. In line with other studies within the mental health area, our results add to the knowledge that consensual sexting is not detrimental to adolescents’ well-being. Our results are thus important for parents and practitioners, because they support that sexting could be understood as a natural part of contemporary adolescent sexual development and, although engagement in sexting may be risky, it is not harmful.

Supplemental Material for Chinese Counseling Trainees’ Trait and State Mindfulness and Client Symptom Outcome: A Longitudinal Examination With Multilevel and Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Models

Supplemental Material for Chinese Counseling Trainees’ Trait and State Mindfulness and Client Symptom Outcome: A Longitudinal Examination With Multilevel and Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Models

Does Prosociality in Early-to Mid-Adolescence Protect Against Later Development of Antisocial Behaviours?

Connections between prosociality and antisocial behaviors have been recognized; however, little research has studied their developmental links longitudinally. This is important to illuminate during early adolescence as a sensitive period for social development in which prosociality could protect against the development of later antisocial behaviors. This study investigates the within-person developmental links between prosociality and antisocial behaviors, as well as a potential mediating role of peer relationships, across ages 11, 13, and 15 ( N = 1526; 51% male) using random-intercept cross-lagged panel models. Results indicated that neither self-reported nor teacher-reported prosociality was associated with reduced aggressive behaviors but suggested a direct protective (‘promotive’) effect of teacher-reported prosociality on bullying perpetration. These findings suggest that promoting prosociality in early adolescence may help reduce some antisocial behaviors over early to mid-adolescent development. Improving prosociality could be explored as a target in intervention approaches such as school-based anti-bullying interventions.

Association of Abnormal Sleep Duration and Sleep Disturbance with Physical Activity in Older Adults: Between- and within-Person Effects

ObjectivesSleep is associated with physical activity (PA), yet the nature and directions of this association are less understood. This study aimed to disentangle the long-term temporal sequences between sleep duration/disturbance and PA in older adults, distinguishing between- and within-person effects. DesignLongitudinal panel study. Setting and ParticipantsWe conducted a longitudinal study using 3 waves of data collected in 2008/09 (T1), 2012/13 (T2), and 2016/17(T3) from adults aged ≥50 years in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (N = 10,749 individuals). MeasuresSleep duration, sleep disturbance, and PA were assessed by self-reported questionnaires. We used cross-lagged panel models (CLPMs) to examine between-person effects and random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) to examine within-person effects. ResultsOur analyses revealed a reciprocal relationship between abnormal sleep duration and low PA levels at between-person level (abnormal sleep duration to PA: βT1-T2 = −0.053, βT2-T3 = −0.058, all P < .001; PA to abnormal sleep duration: βT1-T2 = −0.040, βT2-T3 = −0.045, all P < .05), with abnormal sleep duration being the driving force in the dynamic association. In addition, there was a unidirectional effect of more severe sleep disturbance on lower levels of PA at both between- and within-person levels (between-person level: βT1-T2 = −0.032, βT2-T3 = −0.028, all P < .001; within-person level: βT1-T2 and T2-T3 = −0.031, all P = .011). Conclusions and ImplicationsThis study adds novel insights into the temporal directionality of sleep and PA among community-dwelling older adults and highlights poor sleep as a potential risk factor for PA. Intervention strategies should aim to improve sleep to promote PA levels and successful aging.

Within-person prospective associations between disordered eating, appearance dissatisfaction, and depressive symptoms from adolescence to midlife: A 28-year longitudinal population-based study.

Appearance dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms are considered key risk factors of disordered eating. However, their etiological status is equivocal; previous longitudinal studies have not accounted for time-invariant confounding effects and have not considered potential reverse temporal influences. In addition, whether associations differ between developmental periods and genders has remained untested. To address these issues, we employed a nationwide sample of Norwegian adolescents (N = 2,933; Mage = 15.4 years, 54.2% women) assessed at five time points until midlife. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were used to examine the prospective associations between appearance dissatisfaction, depressive symptoms, and disordered eating, net of all unmeasured time-invariant confounding effects. Results showed that high levels of appearance dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms significantly predicted increased disordered eating. Conversely, disordered eating was also a predictor of increased appearance dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms. These reciprocal effects were equal in magnitude across developmental periods and gender. These results suggest that successful interventions to reduce appearance dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms may alleviate disordered eating, while reduced disordered eating may have beneficial effects on appearance dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms, regardless of age or gender. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Exploring the Dynamic Relationship of Transformational Leadership Behavior and Leader Well-Being: A Three-Wave Cross-Lagged Panel Study

Leadership behavior is associated with leader well-being. Yet, existing research, with the majority representing cross-sectional studies, limits our understanding of the association over time, potential mediating mechanisms, and potential reciprocal relations. Based on Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, we test between- and within-person relationships between transformational leadership and leader vigor as well as emotional exhaustion over time. In addition, we include leaders’ occupational self-efficacy, information exchange with followers, and meaning of work as mediators. 132 leaders participated in a fully cross-lagged study across three consecutive weeks. We analyzed the data with a random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) that allows separating the within- and between-person variance in our variables. At the between-person level, transformational leadership was positively related to vigor, occupational self-efficacy, information exchange, and meaning of work. At the within-person level, there were no lagged associations of transformational leadership and well-being, but a positive lagged effect of vigor in one week on information exchange and meaning of work in the next week. Within one week, transformational leadership was related to occupational self-efficacy, meaning of work, and vigor (positive, respectively) and to emotional exhaustion (negative) within persons. In line with COR theory, we discuss transformational leadership as a resource for leaders associated with greater well-being for leaders. Our study contributes to the literature on dynamic leadership behavior and the mechanisms between leadership and leader well-being

The bidirectional associations between self-esteem and problematic eating behaviors in adolescents.

Theories propose that low self-esteem and problematic eating behaviors (PEBs) negatively impact each other. While previous studies suggested bidirectional associations between self-esteem and PEBs, they did not separate within-person from between-person associations. Therefore, this prospective study investigated the within-person bidirectional associations between self-esteem and four PEBs in adolescence, while accounting for between-person differences. We used two independent longitudinal samples of Dutch adolescents, each including three annually collected waves of data. Sample 1 consisted of 1856 adolescents (Baseline: 50.4% males; Mage = 13.79 years, SDage = 0.72), with measures of self-esteem, emotional eating, restrained eating, and loss of control (LOC) while overeating. Sample 2 consisted of 555 adolescents (Baseline: 49.7% males; Mage = 13.13 years, SDage = 0.68), with measures of self-esteem and LOC eating. The data were analyzed using random intercept cross-lagged panel models (CLPMs). Within persons, lower self-esteem was associated with higher emotional and restrained eating (both Sample 1) one year later, and vice versa. Self-esteem did not predict, nor was predicted by, LOC while overeating (Sample 1) or LOC eating (Sample 2). Between persons, self-esteem was negatively correlated with all PEBs (Samples 1 and 2). We found within-person bidirectional associations between low self-esteem and emotional and restrained eating (but not LOC while overeating/LOC eating), and between-person correlations between low self-esteem and all PEBs. These results have theoretical and practical implications. Within-person processes clarify underlying mechanisms that explain the occurrence of PEBs; between-person associations are important to identify adolescents at risk of PEBs. While theories indicate that low self-esteem and PEBs are inversely associated within individuals, empirical studies have not disentangled within-person processes from between-person differences. This study addressed this disparity, finding that lower self-esteem was bidirectionally associated with higher emotional and restrained eating (but not LOC eating) within persons. These findings suggest that enhancing self-esteem is a viable option for prevention and intervention.

Comparing findings from the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model and the monozygotic twin difference cross-lagged panel model: Maladaptive parenting and offspring emotional and behavioural problems.

In this study we compare results obtained when applying the monozygotic twin difference cross-lagged panel model (MZD-CLPM) and a random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) to the same data. Each of these models is designed to strengthen researchers' ability to draw causal inference from cross-lagged associations. We explore differences and similarities in how each model does this, and in the results each model produces. Specifically, we examine associations between maladaptive parenting and child emotional and behavioural problems in identical twins aged 9, 12 and 16. Child reports of 5698 identical twins from the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) were analysed. We ran a regular CLPM to anchor our findings within the current literature, then applied the MZD-CLPM and the RI-CLPM. The RI-CLPM and MZD-CLPM each enable researchers to evaluate the direction of effects between correlated variables, after accounting for unmeasured sources of potential confounding. Our interpretation of these models therefore focusses primarily on the magnitude and significance of cross-lagged associations. In both the MZD-CLPM and the RI-CLPM behavioural problems at age 9 resulted in higher levels of maladaptive parenting at age 12. Other effects were not consistently significant across the two models, although the majority of estimates pointed in the same direction. In light of the triangulated methods, differences in the results obtained using the MZD-CLPM and the RI-CLPM underline the importance of careful consideration of what sources of unmeasured confounding different models control for and that nuance is required when interpreting findings using such models. We provide an overview of what the CLPM, RI-CLPM and MZD-CLPM can and cannot control for in this respect and the conclusions that can be drawn from each model.