scholarly journals Evaluating the Cumulative Impact of Childhood Misfortune: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

2019 ◽  
pp. 004912411987595
Author(s):  
Sarah Mustillo ◽  
Miao Li ◽  
Kenneth F. Ferraro

Most studies of the early origins of adult health rely on summing dichotomously measured negative exposures to measure childhood misfortune (CM), neglect, adversity, or trauma. There are several limitations to this approach, including that it assumes each exposure carries the same level of risk for a particular outcome. Further, it often leads researchers to dichotomize continuous measures for the sake of creating an additive variable from similar indicators. We propose an alternative approach within the structural equation modeling (SEM) framework that allows differential weighting of the negative exposures and can incorporate dichotomous and continuous observed variables as well as latent variables. Using the Health and Retirement Study data, our analyses compare the traditional approach (i.e., adding indicators) with alternative models and assess their prognostic validity on adult depressive symptoms. Results reveal that parameter estimates using the conventional model likely underestimate the effects of CM on adult health outcomes. Additionally, while the conventional approach inhibits testing for mediation, our model enables testing mediation of both individual CM variables and the cumulative variable. Further, we test whether cumulative CM is moderated by the accumulation of protective factors, which facilitates theoretical advances in life course and social inequality research. The approach presented here is one way to examine the cumulative effects of early exposures while attending to diversity in the types of exposures experienced. Using the SEM framework, this versatile approach could be used to model the accumulation of risk or reward in many other areas of sociology and the social sciences beyond health.

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Furnham ◽  
Helen Cheng

Abstract. This study used a longitudinal data set of 5,672 adults followed for 50 years to determine the factors that influence adult trait Openness-to-Experience. In a large, nationally representative sample in the UK (the National Child Development Study), data were collected at birth, in childhood (age 11), adolescence (age 16), and adulthood (ages 33, 42, and 50) to examine the effects of family social background, childhood intelligence, school motivation during adolescence, education, and occupation on the personality trait Openness assessed at age 50 years. Structural equation modeling showed that parental social status, childhood intelligence, school motivation, education, and occupation all had modest, but direct, effects on trait Openness, among which childhood intelligence was the strongest predictor. Gender was not significantly associated with trait Openness. Limitations and implications of the study are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-37
Author(s):  
Ben Porter ◽  
Camilla S. Øverup ◽  
Julie A. Brunson ◽  
Paras D. Mehta

Abstract. Meta-accuracy and perceptions of reciprocity can be measured by covariances between latent variables in two social relations models examining perception and meta-perception. We propose a single unified model called the Perception-Meta-Perception Social Relations Model (PM-SRM). This model simultaneously estimates all possible parameters to provide a more complete understanding of the relationships between perception and meta-perception. We describe the components of the PM-SRM and present two pedagogical examples with code, openly available on https://osf.io/4ag5m . Using a new package in R (xxM), we estimated the model using multilevel structural equation modeling which provides an approachable and flexible framework for evaluating the PM-SRM. Further, we discuss possible expansions to the PM-SRM which can explore novel and exciting hypotheses.


1997 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 138-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Mcdonald ◽  
Thomas K. Gregoire ◽  
John Poertner ◽  
Theresa J. Early

In this article we describe the results of an ongoing effort to better understand the caregiving process in families of children with severe emotional problems. We make two assumptions. First, we assume that these families are essentially like other families but are faced with a special challenge in raising and caring for their special children while at the same time performing the multiple tasks and demands faced by all families. Second, we assume that public policy and programs must be supportive of the care of these children in their own homes and communities whenever possible. The purpose of this article is to present a model of family caregiving that draws broadly from available theory and empirical literature in multiple fields and to subject this model to empirical testing. We use structural equation modeling with latent variables to estimate an empirical model based on the theoretical model. Results of the model testing point to the importance of the child's external problem behaviors and the family's socioeconomic status and coping strategies as determinants of caregiver stress. Other findings highlight difficulties in measuring and modeling the complex mediating process, which includes formal and informal supports, perceptions, and coping behaviors. The use of structural equation modeling can benefit our efforts to support families by making explicit our theories about the important dimensions of this process and the relationship between these dimensions, which can then be subjected to measurement and validation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Aras Jalal Mhamad ◽  
Renas Abubaker Ahmed

       Based on medical exchange and medical information processing theories with statistical tools, our study proposes and tests a research model that investigates main factors behind abortion issue. Data were collected from the survey of Maternity hospital in Sulaimani, Kurdistan-Iraq. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is a powerful technique as it estimates the causal relationship between more than one dependent variable and many independent variables, which is ability to incorporate quantitative and qualitative data, and it shows how all latent variables are related to each other. The dependent latent variable in SEM which have one-way arrows pointing to them is called endogenous variable while others are exogenous variables. The structural equation modeling results reveal is underlying mechanism through which statistical tools, as relationship between factors; previous disease information, food and drug information, patient address, mother’s information, abortion information, which are caused abortion problem. Simply stated, the empirical data support the study hypothesis and the research model we have proposed is viable. The data of the study were obtained from a survey of Maternity hospital in Sulaimani, Kurdistan-Iraq, which is in close contact with patients for long periods, and it is number one area for pregnant women to obtain information about the abortion issue. The results shows arrangement about factors effectiveness as mentioned at section five of the study. This gives the conclusion that abortion problem must be more concern than the other pregnancy problem.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
I KADEK TEGUH PRADANA ◽  
NI KETUT TARI TASTRAWATI ◽  
I PUTU EKA NILA KENCANA

This research is aimed to determine the factors that significantly influence consumer perception in buying imported fruits using structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. The study use 164 data obtained from questionnaire, which respondents were aged 18 years old or above, from Gianyar Regency, had bought and had felt imported fruits. The study use 4 latent variables (perception, product, personal, culture) with 19 measured variables. The results showed that consumer knowledge about imported fruits (product) and culture about the use of imported fruits in traditional ceremonies (culture) were significantly influence consumer perception about consumption of imported fruit (perception).


Author(s):  
David Opeoluwa Oyewola ◽  
Emmanuel Gbenga Dada ◽  
Juliana Ngozi Ndunagu ◽  
Terrang Abubakar Umar ◽  
Akinwunmi S.A

Since the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, it has been transmitted to more than 200 nations of the world. The harmful impact of the pandemic on the economy of nations is far greater than anything suffered in almost a century. The main objective of this paper is to apply Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Machine Learning (ML) to determine the relationships among COVID-19 risk factors, epidemiology factors and economic factors. Structural equation modeling is a statistical technique for calculating and evaluating the relationships of manifest and latent variables. It explores the causal relationship between variables and at the same time taking measurement error into account. Bagging (BAG), Boosting (BST), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT) and Random Forest (RF) Machine Learning techniques was applied to predict the impact of COVID-19 risk factors. Data from patients who came into contact with coronavirus disease were collected from Kaggle database between 23 January 2020 and 24 June 2020. Results indicate that COVID-19 risk factors have negative effects on epidemiology factors. It also has negative effects on economic factors.


Methodology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 100-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Polina Dimitruk ◽  
Karin Schermelleh-Engel ◽  
Augustin Kelava ◽  
Helfried Moosbrugger

Abstract. Challenges in evaluating nonlinear effects in multiple regression analyses include reliability, validity, multicollinearity, and dichotomization of continuous variables. While reliability and validity issues are solved by employing nonlinear structural equation modeling, multicollinearity remains a problem which may even be aggravated when using latent variable approaches. Further challenges of nonlinear latent analyses comprise the distribution of latent product terms, a problem especially relevant for approaches using maximum likelihood estimation methods based on multivariate normally distributed variables, and unbiased estimates of nonlinear effects under multicollinearity. The only methods that explicitly take the nonnormality of nonlinear latent models into account are latent moderated structural equations (LMS) and quasi-maximum likelihood (QML). In a small simulation study both methods yielded unbiased parameter estimates and correct estimates of standard errors for inferential statistics. The advantages and limitations of nonlinear structural equation modeling are discussed.


2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ned Kock

Most relationships between variables describing natural and behavioral phenomena are nonlinear, with U-curve and S-curve relationships being particularly common. Yet, structural equation modeling software tools do not estimate coefficients of association taking nonlinear relationships between latent variables into consideration. This can lead to misleading results, particularly in multivariate and complex phenomena like those related to e-collaboration. One notable exception is WarpPLS (available from: warppls.com), a new structural equation modeling software currently available in its first release. The discussion presented in this paper contributes to the literature on e-collaboration research methods by providing a description of the main features of WarpPLS in the context of an e-collaboration study. The focus of this discussion is on the software’s features and their use and not on e-collaboration study itself. Particular emphasis is placed on the five steps through which a structural equation modeling analysis is conducted through WarpPLS.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
Kamal Khurana

Spiritually is an essential part of our physical and mental well-being. Spirituality dimensions also effects marital quality. This paper presents evidences that there exists a positive effect of spirituality dimensions on marital satisfaction. The results are proved through structural equation modeling among the latent variables- direct relationship with God, relationship with God through others and martial satisfaction- in a cross-sectional study of 382 married adults aged 18 to 48 years comprising of 225 males and 157 female respondents. Data was collected in Delhi NCR region through self-administrated questionnaire formulated through marital quality index (Norton, 1983)15 and daily spiritual scale (Underwood, 2002)19. Results of structural equation modeling suggest that there is a positive impact of spirituality dimensions on marital satisfaction.


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