Testing Mediational Models With Longitudinal Data: Questions and Tips in the Use of Structural Equation Modeling.

Abstract

R. M. Baron and D. A. Kenny (1986; see record 1987-13085-001) provided clarion conceptual and methodological guidelines for testing mediational models with cross-sectional data. Graduating from cross-sectional to longitudinal designs enables researchers to make more rigorous inferences about the causal relations implied by such models. In this transition, misconceptions and erroneous assumptions are the norm. First, we describe some of the questions that arise (and misconceptions that sometimes emerge) in longitudinal tests of mediational models. We also provide a collection of tips for structural equation modeling (SEM) of mediational processes. Finally, we suggest a series of 5 steps when using SEM to test mediational processes in longitudinal designs: testing the measurement model, testing for added components, testing for omitted paths, testing the stationarity assumption, and estimating the mediational effects.

Rumination, emotion, and forgiveness: Three longitudinal studies.

“…Although nonexperimental studies can never prove definitively that the relationship between two variables is a causal one (Cole & Maxwell, 2003;West & Hepworth, 1991); the present results suggest that forgiveness can be added to the list of adaptive psychological processes that are negatively associated with rumination. Using short-term longitudinal methods and a statistical model for depicting forgiveness as a process of psychological change (McCullough et al, 2003), we found that rumination was related inversely to forgiveness in two ways.…”

“…In Study 3, we replicated the main findings of Studies 1 and 2 by using data from a 21-day diary study that allowed for an examination of the cross-lagged associations of rumination and forgiveness (Cole & Maxwell, 2003;Finkel, 1995;West & Hepworth, 1991). With these data, we were able to evaluate the possibility that rumination on any given day predicted how much avoidance and revenge motivation one would experience on the following day.…”

Relation of emotion-related regulation to children's social competence: A longitudinal study.

“…Because peer-rated data were not available in this study, it would be useful to examine the relations of effortful control and resiliency to peer-rated social status in future work. Finally, Cole and Maxwell (2003) suggested that the optimal test of mediation involves at least three time points. Although our test of mediation is considered optimal with only two waves of data, our mediational analyses should be considered as producing results that are merely consistent with the hypothesis that resiliency mediates the relations of effortful control and impulsivity to quality of social functioning.…”

Parenting and child externalizing behaviors: Are the associations specific or diffuse?

“…Longitudinal designs with data collected at two time points provide the opportunity to examine whether parenting behaviors are predictors of change in child externalizing behaviors from one time point to the next (Cole & Maxwell, 2003;Loeber & Farrington, 1994), and whether the parenting behaviors have specific or diffuse associations with child externalizing versus internalizing outcomes. With more than two data points, it is possible to address not only the specificity of parenting, but also the reciprocity of parenting behaviors and child externalizing behaviors.…”