scholarly journals Measuring Intra-Urban Inequality with Structural Equation Modeling: A Theory-Grounded Indicator

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8610
Author(s):  
Matheus Pereira Libório ◽  
Oseias da Silva Martinuci ◽  
Sandro Laudares ◽  
Renata de Mello Lyrio ◽  
Alexei Manso Correa Machado ◽  
...  

Composite indicators are almost always determined by methods that aggregate a reasonable number of manifest variables that can be weighted—or not—as new synthesis variables. A problem arises when these aggregations and weightings do not capture the possible effects that the various underlying dimensions of the phenomenon have on each other, and consequently distort the assessment of intra-urban inequality. In this paper, we explore the direct and indirect effects that the different underlying dimensions of intra-urban inequality have on indicators that represent this phenomenon. Structural equation modeling was used to build a composite indicator that captures the direct and indirect effects of the underlying dimensions of intra-urban inequality. From this modeling that combines confirmatory factor analysis with a system of simultaneous equations, the intra-urban inequality of the urban conurbation of Maringá–Sarandi–Paiçandu, Brazil was measured. The model comprises first- and second-order structures. The first-order structure is composed of non-observed variables that represent three underlying dimensions of intra-urban inequality. The second-order structure is the intra-urban inequality composite indicator that synthesizes the non-observed variables of the first-order structure. The model aims at demonstrating how to perform a theorized measurement of urban inequality so that it makes it possible to identify which dimensions most influence the others, as well as which dimensions are more relevant to this purpose.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parastoo Jamshidi ◽  
Farid Najafi ◽  
Shayan Mostafaee ◽  
Ebrahem Shakiba ◽  
yahya pasdar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) is a valid indicator for kidney function, both in healthy and diseased people. Different factors can affect GFR. The purpose of this study is to assess a causal model to show direct and indirect effects of GFR-related factors using structural equation modeling. Patients and methods : We analyzed data from recruitment phase of Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease cohort study. Data on socio-behavioral, nutritional, cardiovascular, and metabolic risk factors were entered in a conceptual model in order to test direct and indirect effects of the associated factors on GFR, separately in male and female, using the structural equation modeling. Results : Of 8927 individuals participated in this study, 4212 subjects were male (47.2%) and 4715 subjects were female (52.8%). The obtained standard deviation of GFR was 76.05 (±14.3) per 1.73 . Filtration rate for 11.52%, 72.96% and 15.50% of people were <60, and , respectively. Hypertension in both gender and atherogenic factor in male directly, and in female directly and indirectly had a decreasing effect on GFR. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and smoking in male and female, directly or indirectly through other variables, was associated with a decrease in GFR. In female, diabetes had a decreasing direct and indirect effect on GFR. Obesity in female was directly associated with increasing and indirectly associated with decreasing filtration. Conclusion : According to our results, increasing age, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and high blood lipids, and BUN had a decreasing direct and indirect effects on GFR. Although low GFR might have different reasons and it is not a consistent sign of CKD, our findings, in line with other reports, provide more detailed informations about important risk factors of low GFR. Public awareness about such factors can improve public practice of positive health behaviours.


Sexual Abuse ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 107906322098828
Author(s):  
Adam Brown ◽  
Jamie Yoder ◽  
Kristina Fushi

Despite robust research linking trauma events to the commission of sexual harm by youth, the majority of victims do not become victimizers, imploring us to study potential interceding influences. Some research indicates that intermediary factors like attachment characteristics, trauma symptomatology, and executive functioning may be critical in understanding sexual harm committed by youth. This study explored relationships between trauma events, trauma symptoms, and attachment characteristics, and their relationship to executive functioning in a sample of 196 youth who committed sexual harm. Results revealed bivariate associations between trauma events, symptomatology, and maternal attachment characteristics. Structural equation modeling revealed numerous direct and indirect effects on the path to deficits in executive functioning, and that sexual abuse, above and beyond other forms of traumatic events, contributed to executive functioning deficits via trauma symptoms. The results are contextualized and implications are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parastoo Jamshidi ◽  
Farid Najafi ◽  
Shayan Mostafaee ◽  
Ebrahem Shakiba ◽  
yahya pasdar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) is a valid indicator for kidney function, both in healthy and diseased people. Different factors can affect GFR. The purpose of this study is to assess a causal model to show direct and indirect effects of GFR-related factors using structural equation modeling. Patients and methods : We analyzed data from recruitment phase of Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease cohort study. Data on socio-behavioral, nutritional, cardiovascular, and metabolic risk factors were entered in a conceptual model in order to test direct and indirect effects of the associated factors on GFR, separately in male and female, using the structural equation modeling. Results : Of 8927 individuals participated in this study, 4212 subjects were male (47.2%) and 4715 subjects were female (52.8%). The obtained standard deviation of GFR was 76.05 (±14.3) per 1.73 . Filtration rate for 11.52%, 72.96% and 15.50% of people were <60, and , respectively. Hypertension in both gender and atherogenic factor in male directly, and in female directly and indirectly had a decreasing effect on GFR. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and smoking in male and female, directly or indirectly through other variables, was associated with a decrease in GFR. In female, diabetes had a decreasing direct and indirect effect on GFR. Obesity in female was directly associated with increasing and indirectly associated with decreasing filtration. Conclusion : According to our results, increasing age, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and high blood lipids, and BUN had a decreasing direct and indirect effects on GFR. Although low GFR might have different reasons and it is not a consistent sign of CKD, our findings, in line with other reports, provide more detailed informations about important risk factors of low GFR. Public awareness about such factors can improve public practice of positive health behaviours.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1499-1509
Author(s):  
Xiaobo Yu ◽  
Junbo Chen ◽  
Shanshan Zhao ◽  
Xiaodong Yu

We examined the mediating effect of regret in the relationship between rumination and depression in new employees in China. Newly employed staff members of 2 Chinese firms (N = 376) completed a survey to measure their rumination, regret, and depression. We used structural equation modeling to test the mediating effect of regret in this relationship, and bootstrapping methods to assess the magnitude of the direct and indirect effects. The results indicated that the direct effect of rumination on depression was significant. We also found a significant indirect effect of rumination on depression through the mediator of regret. The findings extend those of prior studies and shed light on how rumination affects depression among new employees in China, in that regret can partially mediate the effect of rumination on depression.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaobing Zhai ◽  
Lihua Di ◽  
Ehab S Eshak ◽  
Can Jiang ◽  
Jing Zeng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Adolescents’ self-evaluation is an expressive form of their self-concept. Parental bonding, personality traits and psychological status were determining factors of adolescents’ self-evaluation; however, no study has tested the effects of the three variables simultaneously. We aimed to explore these effects by a systematic approach. Methods: Data came from the Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS). The associations of parental bonding (measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument), personality traits (the Responsibility Scale) and psychological status (the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, K6) with self-evaluation measured in three domains (the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for children and the Self-Discipline Scale) were tested by the structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. Results: A total of 892 Chinese adolescents (Mage in years=10.72, SD = 0.89) were included. Significant positive correlations were found among self-evaluation, parental bonding, personality traits and psychological status. The overall (direct and indirect) effects of parental bonding on adolescents’ self-evaluation was 0.49 (parental bonding→ self-evaluation, β=0.28; parental bonding→ personality traits and psychological status→ self-evaluation, β=0.21). Personality traits and psychological status were directly associated with adolescents’ self-evaluation (personality trait→ self-evaluation, β=0.78 and K6→ self-evaluation, β=0.39). Conclusions: The use of SEM offered a detailed analysis of the correlations between parental bonding, personality traits, and psychological status, and a systematic approach to investigate their direct and indirect effects on adolescents’ self-evaluation. The three factors were directly associated with adolescents’ self-evaluation and parental bonding had an indirect effect on adolescents’ self-evaluation that was mediated by both personality traits and psychological status.


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