Analyzing latent state-trait and multiple-indicator latent growth curve models as multilevel structural equation models

Frontiers in Psychology

Christian Geiser¹ 

关键词: latent state-trait analysis;    multiple-indicator latent growth curve models;    multilevel structural equation models;    individually-varying and unequally-spaced time points;    mixed-effects models;    ecological momentary assessment data;    intensive longitudinal data;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00975

学科分类：心理学（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Latent state-trait (LST) and latent growth curve (LGC) models are frequently used in the analysis of longitudinal data. Although it is well-known that standard single-indicator LGC models can be analyzed within either the structural equation modeling (SEM) or multilevel (ML; hierarchical linear modeling) frameworks, few researchers realize that LST and multivariate LGC models, which use multiple indicators at each time point, can also be specified as ML models. In the present paper, we demonstrate that using the ML-SEM rather than the SL-SEM framework to estimate the parameters of these models can be practical when the study involves (1) a large number of time points, (2) individually-varying times of observation, (3) unequally spaced time intervals, and/or (4) incomplete data. Despite the practical advantages of the ML-SEM approach under these circumstances, there are also some limitations that researchers should consider. We present an application to an ecological momentary assessment study (N = 158 youths with an average of 23.49 observations of positive mood per person) using the software Mplus (Muthén and Muthén, 1998–2012) and discuss advantages and disadvantages of using the ML-SEM approach to estimate the parameters of LST and multiple-indicator LGC models.

【 授权许可】

CC BY