Criterion validity and relationships between alternative hierarchical dimensional models of general and specific psychopathology.

Abstract

Psychopathology can be viewed as a hierarchy of correlated dimensions. Many studies have supported this conceptualization, but they have used alternative statistical models with differing interpretations. In bifactor models, every symptom loads on both the general factor and one specific factor (e.g., internalizing), which partitions the total explained variance in each symptom between these orthogonal factors. In second-order models, symptoms load on one of several correlated lower-order factors. These lower-order factors load on a second-order general factor, which is defined by the variance shared by the lower-order factors. Thus, the factors in secondorder models are not orthogonal. Choosing between these valid statistical models depends on the hypothesis being tested. Because bifactor models define orthogonal phenotypes with distinct sources of variance, they are optimal for studies of shared and unique associations of the dimensions of psychopathology with external variables putatively relevant to etiology and mechanisms. Concerns have been raised, however, about the reliability of the orthogonal specific factors in bifactor models. We evaluated this concern using parent symptom ratings of 9-10 year olds in the ABCD Study. Psychometric indices indicated that all factors in both bifactor and second-order models exhibited at least adequate construct reliability and estimated replicability.The factors defined in bifactor and second-order models were highly to moderately correlated across models, but have different interpretations. All factors in both models demonstrated significant associations with external criterion variables of theoretical and clinical importance, but the interpretation of such associations in second-order models was ambiguous due to shared variance among factors.

Assessing Two Dimensions of Interpersonal Trust: Other-Focused Trust and Propensity to Trust

“…The two latent constructs were significantly correlated with one another ( r = 0.67, p < 0.001). In the other-focused trust subscale, there was an item with a factor loading lower than 0.40, so this item was dropped based on the criterion of Moore et al (2020) , which views a coefficient of 0.40 as the minimum level for a variable to contribute meaningfully to a factor.…”

The association between latent trauma and brain structure in children

“…Lastly, given that trauma exposure is associated with both psychopathology and cortical thickness in this sample, we examined whether our cortical thickness results could be attributed to general psychopathology rather than trauma specifically. To test this, we used psychopathology dimensions derived in our previous work 44 which defined a general psychopathology factor and three subfactors: internalizing, ADHD, and conduct problems. We then substituted these psychopathology dimensions in place of trauma exposure.…”

The Exposome and its Associations with Broad Mental and Physical Health Measures in Early Adolescence

“…First, it is important to state why we used a CFA on the same sample as was used for the EFAs, whereas it's typical to perform EFAs on a training sample to provide a configuration that CFA can then confirm in a separate sample. If we wished to make a claim about the "true" theoretical structure of the exposome, then a cross-validation framework would be optimal, as was done, for example, in Moore et al (2020) to make claims about the true theoretical structure of psychopathology. 34 However, we conceptualize the exposome here as a bottom-up collection of phenomena which define it (the exposome) ad hoc.…”

“…If we wished to make a claim about the "true" theoretical structure of the exposome, then a cross-validation framework would be optimal, as was done, for example, in Moore et al (2020) to make claims about the true theoretical structure of psychopathology. 34 However, we conceptualize the exposome here as a bottom-up collection of phenomena which define it (the exposome) ad hoc. If additional variables were added to the analysis (e.g., prevalence of venomous snakes in the area or affordability of local fresh vegetables), the definition of the exposome itself would change.…”