scholarly journals Grade Retention in Primary School has Robust and Long-term Positive Effects on Academic Performance and Psychosocial Well-being. How to Avoid Model Dependence and Selection-bias in Grade Retention Research.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willem Van den Broeck ◽  
Eva Staels
Keyword(s):  
Selection Bias ◽  
Grade Retention ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Latent Growth ◽  
Latent Growth Models ◽  
Conditional Mean ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Individual

In this study, the effects of grade retention on school performance (mathematics) and psychosocial well-being are analyzed based on a large existing dataset that has already given rise to several publications. What is new in our study is that the data are analyzed for all years of grade retention and that different methods are used for which we thoroughly check the assumptions and if possible, test them. To improve analytical robustness, the effects of grade retention were investigated using different analysis techniques: latent growth models (LGM), cross-lagged panel models (CLPM), marginal structural models (MSM) and Sequential Conditional Mean Models (SCMM). Across the different methods, it appears that grade retention has a substantial and long-term positive effect on mathematics performance and well-being. The more the methods keep selection-bias and other forms of bias under control, the larger the estimates of the effects. Methods that make full use of longitudinal data are the least bias-sensitive. Finally, the size of the individual effects appears to depend exclusively on the intelligence of the pupil and on the ratio of grade repeaters in the school.

scholarly journals A COVID-19 descriptive study of life after lockdown in Wuhan, China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tong Zhou ◽  
Thuy-vy Thi Nguyen ◽  
Jiayi Zhong ◽  
Junsheng Liu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Latent Growth ◽  
Latent Growth Models ◽  
Stage 1 ◽  
The City

On April 8th, 2020, the Chinese government lifted the lockdown and opened up public transportation in Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic. After 76 days in lockdown, Wuhan residents were allowed to travel outside of the city and go back to work. Yet, given that there is still no vaccine for the virus, this leaves many doubting whether life will indeed go back to normal. The aim of this research was to track longitudinal changes in motivation for self-isolating, life structured, indicators of well-being and mental health after lockdown was lifted. We have recruited 462 participants in Wuhan, China, prior to lockdown lift between the 3rd and 7th of April, 2020 (Time 1), and have followed up with 292 returning participants between 18th and 22nd of April, 2020 (Time 2), 284 between 6th and 10th of May, 2020 (Time 3), and 279 between 25th and 29th of May, 2020 (Time 4). This 4-wave study used latent growth models to examine how Wuhan residents’ psychological experiences change (if at all) within the first two months after lockdown was lifted. The Stage 1 manuscript associated with this submission received in-principle acceptance (IPA) on 2 June 2020. Following IPA, the accepted Stage 1 version of the manuscript was preregistered on the OSF at https://osf.io/g2t3b. This preregistration was performed prior to data analysis. Generally, our study found that: 1) a majority of people still continue to value self-isolation after lockdown was lifted; 2) by the end of lockdown, people perceived gradual return to normalcy and restored structure of everyday life; 3) the psychological well-being slightly improved after lockdown was lifted; 4) people who utilized problem-solving and help-seeking as coping strategies during lockdown had better well-being and mental health by the end of the lockdown; 5) those who experienced more disruptions in daily life during lockdown would display more indicators of psychological ill-being by the end of the lockdown.

scholarly journals A COVID-19 descriptive study of life after lockdown in Wuhan, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 200705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tong Zhou ◽  
Thuy-vy Thi Nguyen ◽  
Jiayi Zhong ◽  
Junsheng Liu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Latent Growth ◽  
Latent Growth Models ◽  
Stage 1 ◽  
The City

On 8 April 2020, the Chinese government lifted the lockdown and opened up public transportation in Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic. After 76 days in lockdown, Wuhan residents were allowed to travel outside of the city and go back to work. Yet, given that there is still no vaccine for the virus, this leaves many doubting whether life will indeed go back to normal. The aim of this research was to track longitudinal changes in motivation for self-isolating, life-structured, indicators of well-being and mental health after lockdown was lifted. We have recruited 462 participants in Wuhan, China, prior to lockdown lift between 3 and 7 April 2020 (Time 1), and have followed up with 292 returning participants between 18 and 22 April 2020 (Time 2), 284 between 6 and 10 May 2020 (Time 3), and 279 between 25 and 29 May 2020 (Time 4). This four-wave study used latent growth models to examine how Wuhan residents' psychological experiences change (if at all) within the first two months after lockdown was lifted. The Stage 1 manuscript associated with this submission received in-principle acceptance (IPA) on 2 June 2020. Following IPA, the accepted Stage 1 version of the manuscript was preregistered on the OSF at https://osf.io/g2t3b. This preregistration was performed prior to data analysis. Generally, our study found that: (i) a majority of people still continue to value self-isolation after lockdown was lifted; (ii) by the end of lockdown, people perceived gradual return to normality and restored structure of everyday life; (iii) the psychological well-being slightly improved after lockdown was lifted; (iv) people who used problem solving and help-seeking as coping strategies during lockdown had better well-being and mental health by the end of the lockdown; (v) those who experienced more disruptions in daily life during lockdown would display more indicators of psychological ill-being by the end of the lockdown.

Nuances in Alzheimer’s Genetic Risk Reveal Differential Predictions of Non-demented Memory Aging Trajectories: Selective Patterns by APOE Genotype and Sex

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 302-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Peggy McFall ◽  
Lars Bäckman ◽  
Roger A. Dixon
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Apoe Genotype ◽  
Cognitively Impaired ◽  
Latent Growth ◽  
Latent Growth Models ◽  
Selective Protection ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Apoe Genotypes

Background: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a prominent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and a frequent target for associations with non-demented and cognitively impaired aging. APOE offers a unique opportunity to evaluate two dichotomous comparisons and selected gradations of APOE risk. Some evidence suggests that APOE effects may differ by sex and emerge especially in interaction with other AD-related biomarkers (e.g., vascular health). Methods: Longitudinal trajectories of non-demented adults (n = 632, 67% female, Mage = 68.9) populated a 40-year band of aging. Focusing on memory performance and individualized memory trajectories, a sequence of latent growth models was tested for predictions of (moderation between) APOE and pulse pressure (PP) as stratified by sex. The analyses (1) established robust benchmark PP effects on memory trajectories, (2) compared predictions of alternative dichotomous groupings (ε4- vs ε4+, ε2- vs ε2+), and (3) examined precision-based predictions by disaggregated APOE genotypes. Results: Healthier (lower) PP was associated with better memory performance and less decline. Therefore, all subsequent analyses were conducted in the interactive context of PP effects and sex stratification. The ε4-based dichotomization produced no differential genetic predictions. The ε2-based analyses showed sex differences, including selective protection for ε2-positive females. Exploratory follow-up disaggregated APOE genotype analyses suggested selective ε2 protection effects for both homozygotic and heterozygotic females. Conclusion: Precision analyses of AD genetic risk will advance the understanding of underlying mechanisms and improve personalized implementation of interventions.

scholarly journals Sample-Selection Biases and the Industrialization Puzzle

2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard Bodenhorn ◽  
Timothy W. Guinnane ◽  
Thomas A. Mroz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Selection Bias ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Compelling Evidence ◽  
Long Term Changes ◽  
The U.S

Understanding long-term changes in human well-being is central to understanding the consequences of economic development. An extensive anthropometric literature purports to show that heights in the United States declined between the 1830s and the 1890s, which is when the U.S. economy modernized. Most anthropometric research contends that declining heights reflect the negative health consequences of industrialization and urbanization. This interpretation, however, relies on sources subject to selection bias. Our meta-analysis shows that the declining height during industrialization emerges primarily in selected samples. We also develop a parsimonious diagnostic test that reveals, but does not correct for, selection bias in height samples. When applied to four representative height samples, the diagnostic provides compelling evidence of selection.

scholarly journals Resilience and disaster research

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 529-547
Author(s):  
Helena Bakić
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Mental Health Disorder ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
The Individual

Disasters pose a significant threat to the long-term well-being of individuals, communities and societies. Therefore, studying resilience, defined as the process of maintaining and recovering psychological well-being after adversity, is crucial for disaster preparedness and mitigation. The aims of this paper are to summarize the historical context of resilience research, present the key concepts, discuss current measurement approaches and propose future research directions. Key determinants of resilience - risk, positive adaptation and resources - are discussed with the focus on studies of adults affected by disasters. This narrative review demonstrates that research up to date has focused mostly on finding the individual characteristics that predict the absence of psychopathology or mental health disorder symptoms, while other types of resources or dynamic relations between key aspects of resilience have been neglected. Future studies should aim to include multiple measurement points, high- and low-risk groups, long-term follow-up and broader perspectives on both psychological well-being and potential resources.

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