Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Clarifying the Implicit Assumptions of Two-Wave Mediation Models via the Latent Change Score Specification: An Evaluation of Model Fit Indices.


ABSTRACT: Statistical mediation analysis is used to investigate mechanisms through which a randomized intervention causally affects an outcome variable. Mediation analysis is often carried out in a pretest-posttest control group design because it is a common choice for evaluating experimental manipulations in the behavioral and social sciences. There are four different two-wave (i.e., pretest-posttest) mediation models that can be estimated using either linear regression or a Latent Change Score (LCS) specification in Structural Equation Modeling: Analysis of Covariance, difference and residualized change scores, and a cross-sectional model. Linear regression modeling and the LCS specification of the two-wave mediation models provide identical mediated effect estimates but the two modeling approaches differ in their assumptions of model fit. Linear regression modeling assumes each of the four two-wave mediation models fit the data perfectly whereas the LCS specification allows researchers to evaluate the model constraints implied by the difference score, residualized change score, and cross-sectional models via model fit indices. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual and statistical comparison of two-wave mediation models. Models were compared on the assumptions they make about time-lags and cross-lagged effects as well as statistically using both standard measures of model fit (χ2, RMSEA, and CFI) and newly proposed T-size measures of model fit for the two-wave mediation models. Overall, the LCS specification makes clear the assumptions that are often implicitly made when fitting two-wave mediation models with regression. In a Monte Carlo simulation, the standard model fit indices and newly proposed T-size measures of model fit generally correctly identified the best fitting two-wave mediation model.

SUBMITTER: Valente MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8450329 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC7537862 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC11289884 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5418122 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5745043 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5978522 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC8187142 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5837944 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7262996 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC9574083 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2682605 | biostudies-literature