A Bayesian semiparametric dynamic two-level structural equation model for analyzing non-normal longitudinal data

JOURNAL OF MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS

卷:121

Article

Song Xin-Yuan¹  Chen Fei²  Lu Zhao-Hua¹ 

[1] Chinese Univ Hong Kong, Dept Stat, Shatin, Hong Kong, Peoples R China

[2] Yunnan Univ Finance & Econ, Stat & Math Coll, Yunnan, Peoples R China

关键词: Dynamic structural equation model;    Bayesian semiparametric modeling;    Blocked Gibbs sampler;    L-nu-measure;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jmva.2013.06.001

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Analyses of non-normal data and longitudinal data to study changes in variables measured repeatedly over time have received considerable attention in social and psychological research. This paper proposes a dynamic two-level nonlinear structural equation model with covariates for analyzing multivariate longitudinal responses that are mixed continuous and ordered categorical variables. To cope with the non-normal continuous data, the corresponding residual errors at both first-level and second-level models are modeled through a Bayesian semiparametric modeling on the basis of a truncated and centered Dirichlet process with stick-breaking priors. The first-level model is defined for measures taken at each time point nested within individuals for investigating their characteristics that vary with time; while the second level is defined for individuals to assess their characteristics that are invariant with time. An algorithm based on the blocked Gibbs sampler is implemented for estimation of parameters. An efficient model comparison statistic, namely the L-nu-measure, is also introduced. Results of a simulation study indicate that the performance of the Bayesian semiparametric estimation is satisfactory. The proposed methodologies are applied to a real longitudinal study concerning cocaine use. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

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