The purpose of this article was to explore how family chaos, parenting processes, parent-child relationship qualities, and sibling qualities changed before versus the early months COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included one parent two adolescent-aged children from 682 families (2,046 participants). Parents youth participating in an ongoing longitudinal study five Midwestern states United States completed additional web-based assessment processes during May-June 2020 pandemic-related...

Exploratory mediation analysis refers to a class of methods used identify set potential mediators process interest. Despite its exploratory nature, conventional approaches are rooted in confirmatory traditions, and as such have limitations contexts. We propose two-stage approach called via regularization (XMed) better address these concerns. demonstrate that this is able correctly more often than estimates unbiased. Finally, illustrated through an empirical example examining the relationship...

To examine the bidirectional associations between adolescent siblings' alcohol use before and during onset of COVID-19 pandemic in Spring 2020 whether youths' stress about missed social connections (i.e., disruption stress) moderated these associations. The sample consisted 682 families (2,046 participants) with two siblings (older siblings: Mage = 15.67 years, 51% female; younger 13.14 48% female) one parent (Mage 45.15 years; 85% from five Midwestern U.S. states. Siblings reported on their...

The growth mixture model has become increasingly popular, given the willingness to acknowledge developmental heterogeneity in populations. Typically, linear models, based on polynomials or piecewise functions, are used substantive applications and evaluated quantitatively through simulation. Growth models that follow inherently nonlinear trajectories, referred as mixed-effects have received comparatively little attention—likely due estimation complexity. Previous work of these involved...

Exploratory mediation analysis via regularization, or XMed, is a recently developed technique that allows one to identify potential mediators of process interest. However, as currently implemented, it can only be applied continuous outcomes. We extend this method allow application dichotomous outcomes, including both and dependent variables. Simulation results show XMed achieve the same sensitivity more conventional methods for such Sobel test, percentile bootstrap, bias-corrected but in...

The article provides perspectives on p values, null hypothesis testing, and alternative techniques in light of modern robust statistical methods. Null testing values can provide useful information provided they are interpreted a sound manner, which includes taking into account insights advances that have occurred during the past 50 years. There are, course, limitations to what reveal about data. But make it clear there serious concerns associated with conventional confidence intervals,...

There has been a great deal of work in the literature on equivalence between mixed-effects modeling and structural equation (SEM) frameworks specifying growth models (Willett & Sayer, 1994). However, there little correspondence latent curve model (LGM) change score (see Grimm, Zhang, Hamagami, Mazzocco, 2013 K. J., Z., F., M. (2013). Modeling nonlinear via acceleration frameworks: Examining velocity trajectories. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 48, 117–143.[Taylor Francis Online], [Web...

Structural equation model trees (SEM Trees) allow for the construction of decision with structural models fit in each nodes. Based on covariate information, SEM Trees can be used to create distinct subgroups containing individuals similar parameter estimates. Currently, modeling component is implemented R packages OpenMx and lavaan. We extend so that Mplus, hopes its efficiency accessibility a broader group researchers wider range models. discuss Mplus algorithm, implementation, position...

In this article, we introduce nonlinear longitudinal recursive partitioning (nLRP) and the R package longRpart2 to carry out analysis. This method implements (also known as decision trees) in order split data based on individual- (i.e., cluster) level covariates with goal of predicting differences trajectories. At each node, a user-specified linear or mixed-effects model is estimated. an extension Abdolell et al.'s (2002) while permitting addition node. We give overview partitioning, models...

The latent change score framework allows for estimating a variety of univariate trajectory models, such as the no change, linear exponential forms well multivariate models that allow coupling between two or more constructs. A particularly attractive feature these is it easy to decompose and interpret aspects change. One flexible model, dual has components change: proportional component depends on scores at previous time point, constant additive. We demonstrate through simulation an empirical...

Change over time often takes on a nonlinear form. Furthermore, change patterns can be characterized by heterogeneity due to unobserved subpopulations. Nonlinear mixed-effects mixture models provide one way of addressing both these issues. This study attempts extend accommodate time-unstructured data. We develop methods fit in the structural equation modeling framework as well Bayesian and evaluate their performance. Simulations show that success is driven separation between latent classes....

Suicide is a leading cause of death in military service members/veterans (SM/Vs). Positive social exchanges (e.g., emotional support) buffer against suicide risk but the influence negative unwanted advice) understudied.The current study explored (1) contributions positive and as simultaneous correlates ideation risk, (2) whether mitigated association (3) if facets were uniquely related to risk. SM/Vs men (N = 508) completed self-report questionnaires.Roughly 27% endorsed ideation. Between...

Delay discounting is the loss in value of an outcome as a function its delay. The present study focused on examining trait‐like characteristic delay preclinical animal model. Specifically, we were interested whether there was positive relation between 2 different outcomes rats. That is, would rats that discount delayed food steeply also water steeply? In addition, examined how session‐to‐session variability could be attributed to differences subjects (trait variability) and within (state...

This study investigates the direct and indirect effects of maternal sibling relational intimacy on adolescents’ volunteering behaviors via their social responsibility values. Participants included two adolescents (50% female; M age = 1 year) one parent (85% 45 years) from 682 families ( N 2046) an ongoing longitudinal study. Adolescents self-reported with mothers siblings (Time 1), values (Times 2); parents reported sociodemographic characteristics (i.e., gender, birth order, family income)....

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dimensionality cognitive processes related memory capacity and language ability assess magnitude relationships among these in children developing typically (TD) with developmental disorder (DLD). Participants were 234 between ages 7;0 11;11 (117 TD 117 DLD) who propensity matched on age, sex, mother education family income. Latent variables created from processing tasks standardized measures comprehension production lexical sentential aspects...

Measurement of adaptive skills is important in the diagnosis, intervention planning, and progress monitoring children with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD). Thus, ensuring accurate measurement, including measurement invariance, across without IDD critical. In this study, we evaluate invariance using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) Vineland-3 Comprehensive Interview (CIF) ages 6-21 years (N = 1,192) archival data. Results showed that CIF exhibits configural but...

The extraordinary disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic created a unique context to investigate links between family communication and adolescent adjustment. Given that widespread stay-at-home orders increased time spent in setting, present study examined reciprocal older younger siblings' disclosure toward each other concurrent prospective those disclosures their own coping from before during early stages of pandemic. Participants were two adolescent-aged siblings (older...

Sibling differentiation (or deidentification) is theoretically posited as a mechanism that reduces competition and comparison between siblings thus fosters sibling harmony (i.e., more positivity less negativity). Empirical research, however, reveals inconsistent findings regarding the links youths’ relationship qualities. The present study utilized longitudinal dyadic design to investigate whether promoted relational or discord over time identify reciprocal linkages older younger siblings’...