Standardized Path Coefficients Research Articles

Effects of March of Dimes Supportive Pregnancy Care on Social Support and Postpartum Depression.

Group prenatal care, which integrates medical care with patient education and empowerment in a group setting, has the potential to build social support among pregnant women and reduce the risk of postpartum depression (PPD). Past research on group care's effects on social support or PPD has produced inconsistent findings. Studies have tended to (1) examine direct effects on social support or PPD and (2) treat group care participation as a dichotomous variable. This study tests the hypothesis that group care has an indirect effect on PPD through its effect on social support. It uses both a dichotomous measure of group care participation and an ordinal measure of social contact with group members. This study used survey data from 199 women at two Tennessee health care sites who participated in traditional care (TC) or Supportive Pregnancy Care (SPC), a new group program developed by March of Dimes. Path analysis was employed, estimating standardized path coefficients with propensity score weighted multilevel modeling. The study found no evidence of an indirect relationship between SPC and PPD symptoms when modeling the dichotomous measure. Modeling the ordinal measure revealed more favorable PPD outcomes among women reporting high group member contact (compared with TC) and adverse outcomes among women reporting low group member contact. SPC may be useful for preventing PPD symptoms among women socially engaged with other group care patients. Given the adverse effect among women who do not engage with other group members, group facilitators should encourage women to interact outside of scheduled sessions.

56-LB: The Mediating Role of Shared Responsibility in the Relationship of Trait Mindfulness and Diabetes-Related Outcomes

In youth with T1D, mindfulness and parental involvement (i.e., shared responsibility) of diabetes self-management (DSM) behaviors are associated with positive diabetes-related outcomes. This study explored the mediating role of shared responsibility in the relationship of mindfulness with DSM and A1c. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 129 adolescents aged 12-18 years with T1D at a tertiary medical center. Adolescents completed a survey on mindfulness (Child Acceptance & Mindfulness Measure), shared responsibility (Diabetes Family Responsibility Questionnaire-Short) and DSM (Self-care Inventory). A1c was obtained from medical records. The PROCESS SPSS macro by Hayes (v3.5) was used to assess mediation. Unstandardized and standardized path coefficients (β), SE, p-value, and 10,000 bias-corrected bootstraps 95% CI reported. Results: Mindfulness had positive significant association with shared responsibility (a-path=0.974, SE=.045, β=.189, R2=.036, p=.032). Shared responsibility had significant association with DSM (b-path=0.055, SE=.017, β=.275, p=.0015). The direct (c’) and total (c) relationships between mindfulness and DSM were significant (c’=0.198, SE=.087, β=.193, p=.024; c=.251, SE=.088, β=.245, R2=.06, p=.005). The relationship between mindfulness and DSM was partially mediated by shared responsibility (ab=0.053, SE=0.031 bias-corrected bootstrapped 95% CI = [0.0059, 0.0119]). For the second mediational model, neither mindfulness nor shared responsibility was associated with A1c (p>.05). Mindfulness and shared responsibility had positive association with DSM but not A1c. Shared responsibility partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and DSM, whereby youth with higher levels of trait mindfulness had greater shared responsibility and better DSM. Temporal inferences should be interpreted with caution. Interventions targeting both mindfulness and shared responsibility should be explored. Disclosure H. Abujaradeh: None. P. Viswanathan: None. S. M. Sereika: None. M. M. DiNardo: None. C. A. Feeley: None. D. Charron-Prochownik: None. Funding National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; Eta Chapter-Sigma Research Award; Swigart/Gold Doctoral Student Award; J. Wiggins Scholarship

헬스케어 웨어러블 디바이스의 지속적 사용의도에 영향을 미치는 주요 요인 분석: 일반인 vs. 의료기관 종사자

This study examined the effects of internal and external factors on actual use, experience satisfaction, and continuous use intention of healthcare wearable devices/apps between general public and healthcare workers. The proposed research model with its associated nine hypotheses was tested using structural equation modeling. The findings of the study indicated that internal(knowledge and belief) and external factors (social influence, price value, performance expectancy, and effort expectancy) have positive effects on actual use, experience satisfaction, and continuous use intention of healthcare wearable devices/apps in both groups. However, for hypothesis 2, the standardized path coefficient between attitude and actual use was not significant in both groups. The results of the study provided operational strategies of healthcare wearable devices/apps to hospitals, companies, institutions, and policymakers to be developed new valuable items and effectively used them for well-being.

The Role of Toxic Leadership and Perceived Organizational Support on Academic Staff’s Psychological Distress

This study examines the impact of toxic leadership on academic staff’s psychological distress in the Malaysian context. Also, the moderating role of perceived organizational support is explored. A questionnaire was utilized to gather the data (n=450) for this research. The multi-stage sampling technique combines cluster sampling and a simple random sampling involving academic staff from a public university in Malaysia. The SMART PLS-SEM version 3.2.7. was used to analyze the data. Based on the structural model's standardized path coefficients from the PLS results, toxic leadership profoundly influenced employees' psychological distress. However, perceived organizational support was an insignificant moderator of the impact between toxic leadership and psychological distress. The empirical research findings address the gap in the overall body of literature regarding Toxic Leadership Theory, such as the psychological distress and perceived organizational support. Hence, it provides an insight into toxic leadership study that has a few examined in previous research. Toxic leadership phenomenon can be used by the organization to better understand the dark side of leadership style, improve employee knowledge about toxic leadership and emotional coping strategy. Successful preventing toxic leadership is seen as an advantage for organizations that can promote a healthy work environment and a quality leader.

Understanding farmers’ safety behavior regarding pesticide use in Morocco

Abstract Unsafe pesticide use is a significant concern in rural areas, resulting in serious threats to farmer and environmental health. This problem can be especially severe in developing countries, including Morocco. However, few studies have explored the factors influencing farmers’ safety behavior regarding pesticide use in this country. Hence, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of 232 arboricultural farmers in 12 counties of Morocco's Saiss Plain to assess farmers’ pesticide safety behavior. Farmers’ characteristics, knowledge of pesticides, perceived risk, health consequences, subjective norms, and safety behavior data were collected and analyzed using a structural equation model (SEM). The majority of farmers have long term experience with pesticide use, but they followed poor safety practices, including insufficient use of personal protective equipment during pesticide handling. As a result, farmers showed a high incidence of health problems related to pesticide use (e.g., skin irritation and headaches). Unsafe pesticide handling was mostly attributable to farmers’ low education levels and insufficient training. Consequently, farmers applied high amounts of pesticides to increase production quantities (an average of 12.02 kg/ha per growing season). Although banned in the country, considerable use of organochlorines (i.e., endosulfan) and organophosphorus (i.e., chlorpyrifos ethyl and chlorpyrifos methyl) were reported. Adherence to safety behaviors while handling pesticides significantly improved with high levels of pesticide knowledge (standardized path coefficient, SPC = 0.31) and the perceived severity of the associated health risks (SPC = 0.27). Conversely, uncertainty about the risks of pesticide use was associated with a lower likelihood of adopting safety measures (SPC = 0.24). Improved knowledge of safe pesticide handling and training courses on the risks posed by pesticide exposure to human and environmental health are urgently needed to improve farmers’ safety behavior in Morocco.

The association between demographic characteristics, personality, and mental health of bus drivers in China: A structural equation model

BackgroundThe psychological status of drivers is related to adverse driving behaviors. Although there are several studies on the mental health and traffic accidents among bus drivers, related studies on the association between mental health and individual characteristics are scarce. MethodsOur report is on a cross-sectional study of bus drivers that took place between October 2014 and May 2016. A total of 596 bus drivers who worked for transportation companies and underwent occupational physical examinations at The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region workers' Hospital during the study period were included. Demographic characteristics were collected by a self-designed demographic questionnaire. The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R) were used to evaluate the personality and mental health of bus drivers, and the results of the scales were compared with Chinese norms. The structural equation model was used to analyze the correlation among demographic characteristics, personality characteristics, and mental health. ResultsExcept for the lie dimension, the average scores of the driver's personality dimension were higher than the Chinese norm, and the means of somatization and phobia scores of bus drivers were also higher; obsessions-compulsions, interpersonal sensitivity, and depression scores were lower than those for the Chinese norms. The structural equations modeling revealed that the total effects coefficient of demographic characteristics on mental health was 0.68, and that of personality was 0.60. There were direct influences between demographic characteristics and personality characteristics, demographic characteristics and mental health, and personality characteristics and mental health; the standardized path coefficients were 0.60, 0.50, and 0.30, respectively. Smoking, drinking, and neuroticism were the main factors affecting the mental health of bus drivers; and the standardized path coefficients were 0.56, 0.54, and 0.90 respectively. ConclusionsIn this study, bus drivers were significantly more extroverted, psychotic, and neurotic than the general population; and they were more likely to suffer from somatization and phobia. The mental health of bus drivers was associated with some demographic and personality characteristics in the study. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the selection of bus drivers and intervention measures for drivers with high-risk driving tendencies, which is conducive to better guide road traffic safety construction and reduce the occurrence of road traffic injuries.

Three-year effects of neighborhood social network intervention on mental and physical health of older adults

Objectives Although neighborhood is considered to be a crucial source of social network to promote health among older adults, current findings are mostly derived from observational study designs. This study examined whether participations in event-based community programs could increase neighborhood social network and whether such increase could lead to desirable changes in mental and physical health among older adults. Method This study employed quasi-experimental design. A baseline questionnaire survey was sent to residents of Tsurukabuto community aged 60 years or more (n = 1769); 1,068 responded. Community events were implemented approximately once a month for three years. Then, a three-year follow-up survey questionnaire was sent to the respondents of the baseline survey. The total number of respondents in the latter survey was 662; of the total, 173 participated in the intervention. Strong and weak ties with neighbors, mental well-being (Ikigai-9), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) were measured in the surveys. Results The path analysis revealed that intervention participation was significantly associated with changes in strong ties (standardized path coefficient = 0.12) and changes in strong ties were associated with those in Ikigai-9 scores (standardized path coefficient = 0.15). The total and indirect effects of intervention participation on Ikigai-9 scores were significant. Significant intervention effects were not observed for HRQOL and IADL scores. Conclusion This study found that participation in our event-based intervention could indirectly and positively influence older adults’ mental well-being through their strong ties with their neighbors.

Supporting the Development of Homestay Tourism in the Yangtze River Delta: A Study Based on Tourists' Perceived Value

Homestay tourism has begun to flourish throughout the country, becoming a model of tourism innovation and upgrading, and attracting increasing amounts of capital. Through the collection and analysis of tourist questionnaire data for key cities in the Yangtze River Delta, and based on the theory of tourists' perceived value,18 factors related to the perception of homestay tourism are examined. Through exploratory factor analysis, three main factors of facilities and environment perception, cultural experience perception and service value perception are extracted. Then, from the perspectives of each of these perceptions, this study determines the degree of support for homestay tourism development in the Yangtze River Delta, obtains the key factors that affect the development of homestay tourism, and constructs a structural equation model of tourist perception and the degree of homestay tourism support. By calculating the regression path of the structural equation, the standardized path coefficients of the facilities and environment perception, cultural experience perception and service value perception are found to be 0.724, 0.813 and 0.692, respectively. These three factors have a significant impact on the development of homestay tourism agglomeration. Positive facilities and environmental perception can effectively support the development of homestay tourism, while the cultural experience perception provides its basic condition, and the service value perception constitutes an important factor of homestay tourism development. To better guide the development of homestay tourism, attention must be paid to developing the tourism facilities and environment, to cultivating tourism cultural experiences, and to improving of tourism service value.

Relationship between Negative Work Situation, Work-Family Conflict, Sleep-Related Problems, and Job Dissatisfaction in the Truck Drivers

Understanding the relationship between psychological factors of truck drivers is very important for accident prevention plans. This study investigates whether the negative work situation or work-family conflict positively affects sleep-related problems and whether sleep-related problems positively affect job dissatisfaction. The relationship was verified by structural equation modeling. The analysis was conducted with 184 truck drivers who drive daily from the 5th Korea Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) data. The structural equation modeling results found that work-family conflict (standardized path coefficient = 0.274) and negative work situation (standardized path coefficient = 0.203) had significantly affected sleep-related problems. Also, the sleep-related problems were more affected by the work-family conflict level than the negative work situation level. Sleep-related problems were found to correlate with job dissatisfaction (standardized path coefficient = 0.336). The relationship between negative work situation and work-family conflict on sleep-related problems and job dissatisfaction will help establish preventive policies for truck drivers’ safety and health.

Lake productivity and waterbird functional diversity across geographic and environmental gradients in temperate China.

Geographical gradients in species diversity have long fascinated biogeographers and ecologists. However, the extent and generality of the effects of the important factors governing functional diversity (FD) patterns are still debated, especially for the freshwater domain. We examined the relationship between lake productivity and functional diversity of waterbirds sampled from 35 lakes and reservoirs in northern China with a geographic coverage of over 5 million km2. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the causal relationships between geographic position, climate, lake productivity, and waterbird FD. We found unambiguous altitudinal and longitudinal gradients in lake productivity and waterbird FD, which were strongly mediated by local environmental factors. Specifically, we found (a) lake productivity increased northeast and decreased with altitude. The observed geographic and altitudinal gradients were driven by climatic conditions and nutrient availability, which collectively explained 93% of the variations in lake productivity; (b) waterbird FD showed similar geographic and altitudinal gradients; the environmental factors which had direct and/or indirect effects on these gradients included climate and lake area, which collectively explained more than 39% of the variation in waterbird FD; and 3) a significant (p = .029) causality between lake productivity and waterbird FD was confirmed. Nevertheless, the causality link was relatively weak in comparison with climate and lake area (the standardized path coefficient was 0.55, 0.23, and 0.03 for climate, lake area, and productivity, respectively). Our study demonstrates how the application of multivariate technique (e.g., SEM) enables the illustration of complex causal paths in ecosystems, enhancing mechanistic explanations that underlie the observed broadscale biodiversity gradients.

Antenatal pain, intimate partner violence, and maternal bonding disorder: data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

This prospective study examined (1) whether antenatal pain is associated with postnatal maternal bonding disorder (MBD) through postnatal depression and (2) whether intimate partner violence (IPV) has a moderating effect on the association between antenatal pain and postnatal MBD. We analyzed 77,326 pregnancies of women who completed self-report questionnaires including the SF-8 bodily pain item, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale, and an assessment of IPV. We conducted a mediation analysis to assess whether postnatal depression mediated the association between antenatal pain and MBD 1 year after delivery. A moderated mediation model was used to examine the conditional effect of IPV during pregnancy on the association between antenatal pain and postnatal MBD, operating through postnatal depression. All analyses were adjusted for demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, perinatal and infant factors, medical history, and psychological status. Of the 77,326 pregnancies, 5420 (7.0%) were characterized by persistent moderate-to-severe pain. The total effect of antenatal pain on MBD was significant (standardized path coefficient = 0.06, 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.06) and postnatal depression dominantly mediated the association between antenatal pain and postnatal MBD (70.8% mediation). Contrary to our hypothesis, IPV during pregnancy did not moderate the association between antenatal pain and postnatal MBD. However, IPV during pregnancy did have independent negative effects on both postnatal depression and MBD. Our findings suggest that antenatal pain and postnatal depression should be assessed and treated with consideration of the presence of IPV during pregnancy to better monitor and prevent the development of MBD.

Development and Validation of a Theory-Informed Group Learning Environment Assessment Tool for Graduate Medical Education Programs.

Recent studies showed that psychological safety is important to resident perception of the work environment, and improved psychological safety improves resident satisfaction survey scores. However, there is no evidence in medical education literature specifically addressing relationships between psychological safety and learning behaviors or its impact on learning outcomes. We developed and gathered validity evidence for a group learning environment assessment tool using Edmondson's Teaming Theory and Webb's Depth of Knowledge model as a theoretical framework. In 2018, investigators developed the preliminary tool. The authors administered the resulting survey to neonatology faculty and trainees at Baylor College of Medicine morning report sessions and collected validity evidence (content, response process, and internal structure) to describe the instrument's psychometric properties. Between December 2018 and July 2019, 450 surveys were administered, and 393 completed surveys were collected (87% response rate). Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis testing the 3-factor measurement model of the 15-item tool showed acceptable fit of the hypothesized model with standardized root mean square residual = 0.034, root mean square error approximation = 0.088, and comparative fit index = 0.987. Standardized path coefficients ranged from 0.66 to 0.97. Almost all absolute standardized residual correlations were less than 0.10. Cronbach's alpha scores showed internal consistency of the constructs. There was a high correlation among the constructs. Validity evidence suggests the developed group learning assessment tool is a reliable instrument to assess psychological safety, learning behaviors, and learning outcomes during group learning sessions such as morning report.

Developing a Japanese Version of the Baron Depression Screener for Athletes among Male Professional Rugby Players.

The Baron Depression Screener for Athletes (BDSA) is a brief, valid, and reliable athlete- specific assessment tool developed in the US to assess depressive symptoms in elite athletes. We examined the applicability and reliability of a Japanese version of the BDSA (BDSA-J) in a Japanese context, and further examined the construct validity of the BDSA-J. Web-based anonymous self-report data of 235 currently competing Japanese professional male rugby players (25–29 years = 123 [52.3%]) was analyzed. A two-stage process was conducted to validate the factor structure of the BDSA-J using exploratory factor analysis in a randomly partitioned calibration sample, and confirmatory factor analysis in a separate validation sample. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess internal consistency. Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficients were calculated to examine convergent validity with the Kessler-6. We identified a one-factor structure for BDSA-J. Confirmatory factor analysis supported this one-factor model, revealing good model fit indices. The standardized path coefficients for each of the items were β = 0.52 to 0.79 (p < 0.001). A Cronbach’s alpha of 0.71 was obtained for the BDSA-J. BDSA-J showed significant positive correlations with the Kessler-6. The BDSA-J is an appropriate and psychometrically robust measure for identifying depressive symptoms in Japanese male rugby players.

The Entrepreneur's Psychological Capital, Creative Innovation Behavior, and Enterprise Performance.

In order to analyze the relationship between entrepreneur psychological capital, creative innovation behavior, and enterprise performance based on the actual situation of Chinese enterprises and provide a theoretical basis for the application of entrepreneur psychological capital in enterprise innovation and performance development, in this study, 536 entrepreneurs from 517 enterprises in different fields in Anhui region were selected, and a questionnaire survey on the psychological capital of entrepreneurs, creative innovation behaviors, and corporate performance was conducted. A hypothesis model of the relationship between entrepreneur’s psychological capital, creative innovation behavior, and enterprise performance was constructed. The correlation between entrepreneur’s psychological capital, creative innovation behavior, and enterprise performance and the intermediation of creative innovation behavior were analyzed using multiple-regression model and structural equation model. The results show that there is a significant positive correlation between dimensions of self-efficacy (regression coefficient = 0.682, p = 0.000), toughness (regression coefficient = 0.526, p = 0.000), and enterprise performance; there is a significant positive correlation between the dimensions of optimism (regression coefficient = 0.471, p = 0.003), hope (regression coefficient = 0.590, p = 0.006), and enterprise performance; there is a significant positive correlation between entrepreneurs’ technological innovation behavior (regression coefficient = 0.506, p = 0.000), business innovation behavior (regression coefficient = 0.562, p = 0.000), and enterprise performance; there is a significant positive correlation between entrepreneurial relationship acquisition behavior (regression coefficient = 0.632, p = 0.004) and enterprise performance. Taking entrepreneurs’ creative innovation behavior as the intermediary variable, the authors conclude that the dimensions of entrepreneurs’ self-efficacy, hope, optimism, toughness, and the standardized path coefficient of enterprise performance are significantly reduced; through the analysis of structural equation model, it is found that the fitting index of the model of entrepreneur’s psychological capital, creative innovation behavior, and enterprise performance meets the fitting standard, which shows that both the psychological capital and the creative innovation behavior of entrepreneurs can promote the improvement of enterprise performance. Entrepreneur’s creative innovation behavior plays an intermediary effect in the positive influence of entrepreneur’s psychological capital on enterprise performance.

Pain Catastrophizing in Older Adults with Chronic Pain: The Mediator Effect of Mood Using a Path Analysis Approach.

Cognitive models of pain propose that catastrophic thinking is negatively associated with chronic pain. However, pain catastrophizing is a complex phenomenon requiring a multivariate examination. This study estimates the effects of mood variables (anxiety and depression) on pain catastrophizing in older adults with chronic pain. A postal survey addressing pain aspects was sent to 6611 people ≥ 65 years old living in south-eastern Sweden. Pain catastrophizing was measured using the pain catastrophizing scale. Anxiety and depression were assessed using two subscales of the general well-being schedule. Data were analysed using a path analysis approach. A total of 2790 respondents (76.2 ± 7.4 years old) reported chronic pain (≥three months). The mediation model accounted for 16.3% of anxiety, 17.1% of depression, and 30.9% of pain catastrophizing variances. Pain intensity, insomnia, number of comorbidities, and lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, and weight) significantly affected both pain catastrophizing and mood. Anxiety (standardized path coefficient (bstd) = 0.324, p < 0.001) in comparison to depression (bstd = 0.125, p < 0.001) had a greater effect on pain catastrophizing. Mood mediated the relationship between pain catastrophizing and pain-related factors accounting for lifestyle and sociodemographic factors.

남한강 수질에 미치는 영향요인분석 - 상·하류의 연속적 인과관계를 중심으로 -

This study analyzed the effects of Yeoju, Gangcheon, Yeoju 1, Neungseo, and Daesin in the Namhan River basin on eutrophication (chlorophyll-a trophic state index: TSI) from September 2012 to December 2018 by path analysis. Depend on the standardized path coefficient, the Yeoju area had a positive (+) effect at 0.792±0.024 (p<0.001) on the Gangcheon. Likewise, Gangcheon’s TSI had an effect on the downstream TSI of Yeoju 1 by the standardization path coefficient of 0.848±0.018 (p<0.001). The standardization path coefficients of Yeoju 1→Neungseo, Neungseo→Daesin were 0.754±0.025 (p<0.001) and 0.817±0.020 (p<0.001), respectively. The livestock solids waste in Gangcheon had a statistically significant positive (+) effect with a standardization path coefficient of 0.169±0.084 (p=0.04). The R-square, the influence of the causal variable on the outcome variable, was very high with 0.641 in Gangcheon, 0.733 in Yeoju, 0.566 in Neungseo, and 0.682 Daesin. According to this study, it was found that controlling the cause of eutrophication in the upstream region is very important in controlling eutrophication of the entire river. This study was conducted on 5 of the Namhan River water quality measurement points. It is thought that continuous causality research will be possible in more regions in the future.

RETRACTED: Can engagement in learning enhance tourism undergraduates’ employability? A case study

Whether the learning engagement of tourism students during undergraduate study can improve their comprehensive quality effectively and promote their employability? In order to make the results of research adaptively and pertinently, this paper introduced a structural equation model according to job involvement, performance theory, and student participation theory to analyze the influence of the learning engagement of tourism undergraduates on their employability under the research of the employment tracking data of 510 tourism undergraduates in different years. The study found that the standardized path coefficient of the learning engagement on the employability of tourism students during their undergraduate study was 0.69, which had a significant positive effect; behavioral engagement has significant positive influence on employability. Cognitive engagement has a significant positive effect on all dimensions of employability. Emotional engagement has a significant positive effect on all dimensions of employability. According to the results, tourism students can strengthen their learning engagement during undergraduate study to face the employment competition. Schools and society should also use a variety of modern means and network technology to guide students to promote their investment in learning.

Exploring first-time online undergraduate and graduate students’ growth mindsets and flexible thinking and their relations to online learning engagement

The present study was an attempt to help us reveal the characteristics and complexity of today’s first-time online students in a higher education setting. Data were collected from undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in fully online courses for the first time during spring semester in the 2016–2017 academic year at a Southern university in the United States. Primarily, path analysis was conducted to investigate the impacts of flexible thinking, mindsets, and self-efficacy on the 254 first-time online students’ online learning engagement. The results of the path analysis supported six out of the eight hypotheses and all standardized path coefficients have values between 0.14 and 0.31. In conclusion, growth mindset and learning self-efficacy appear to be important variables for first-time online students and have a positive relation to online engagement. The practical implications and future research are discussed.

Dealing With Artificially Dichotomized Variables in Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract. Meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) is a relatively new method in which effect sizes of different independent studies between multiple variables are typically first pooled into a matrix and next analyzed using structural equation modeling. While its popularity is increasing, there are issues still to be resolved, such as how to deal with primary studies in which variables have been artificially dichotomized. To be able to advise researchers who apply MASEM and need to deal with this issue, we performed two simulation studies using random-effects two stage structural equation modeling. We simulated data according to a full and partial mediation model and systematically varied the size of one (standardized) path coefficient (βMX = .16, βMX = .23, βMX = .33), the percentage of dichotomization (25%, 75%, 100%), and the cut-off point of dichotomization (.5, .1). We analyzed the simulated datasets in two different ways, namely, by using (1) the point-biserial and (2) the biserial correlation as effect size between the artificially dichotomized predictor and continuous variables. The results of these simulation studies indicate that the biserial correlation is the most appropriate effect size to use, as it provides unbiased estimates of the path coefficients in the population.

Coupling between the Grain for Green Program and a household level-based agricultural eco-economic system in Ansai, Shaanxi Province of China

The implementation of the Grain for Green Program (GGP) has changed the development track of the agricultural eco-economic system in China. In response to the results of a lag study that investigated the coupling between the GGP and the agricultural eco-economic system in a loess hilly region, we used a structural equation model to analyze the survey data from 494 households in Ansai, a district of Yan’an City in Shaanxi Province of China in 2015. The model clarified the direction and intensity of the coupling between the GGP and the agricultural eco-economic system. The coupling benefits were derived through linkages between the program and various chains in the agricultural eco-economic system. The GGP, the agroecosystem of Ansai and their potential coupling effects were in a state of general coordination. The agroecosystem directly affected the coupling effect, with the standardized path coefficient of 0.87, indicating that the agroecosystem in Ansai at this stage provided basic material support for the coupling between the GGP and the agricultural eco-economic system. The direct path coefficient of agroeconomic system impacted on the coupling effect was -0.76, indicating that partial contradictions occurred between the agroeconomic system and the coupling effect. Therefore, although the current agroecosystem in Ansai should be provided sufficient agroecological resources for the benign coupling between the program and the agricultural eco-economic system, agricultural development failed to effectively transform agroecological resources into agricultural economic advantages in this region, which resulted in a relative lag in the development of the agricultural economic system. Thus, the coupling between the GGP and the agricultural eco-economic system was poor. To improve the coupling and the sustainable development of the agricultural eco-economic system in cropland retirement areas, the industrial structure needs to be diversified, the agricultural resources (including agroecological resources, agricultural economic resources and agricultural social resources) need to be rationally allocated, and the chain structure of the agricultural eco-economic system needs to be continuously improved.