To deal with missing data that arise due to participant nonresponse or attrition, methodologists have recommended an "inclusive" strategy where a large set of auxiliary variables are used to inform ...the missing data process. In practice, the set of possible auxiliary variables is often too large. We propose using principal components analysis (PCA) to reduce the number of possible auxiliary variables to a manageable number. A series of Monte Carlo simulations compared the performance of the inclusive strategy with eight auxiliary variables (inclusive approach) to the PCA strategy using just one principal component derived from the eight original variables (PCA approach). We examined the influence of four independent variables: magnitude of correlations, rate of missing data, missing data mechanism, and sample size on parameter bias, root mean squared error, and confidence interval coverage. Results indicate that the PCA approach results in unbiased parameter estimates and potentially more accuracy than the inclusive approach. We conclude that using the PCA strategy to reduce the number of auxiliary variables is an effective and practical way to reap the benefits of the inclusive strategy in the presence of many possible auxiliary variables.
Theoretical models of pediatric chronic pain propose longitudinal associations between children's pain experiences and parent and family factors. A large body of cross-sectional research supports ...these models, demonstrating that greater parent distress and maladaptive parenting behaviors are associated with greater child disability. Family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions have been developed for youth with chronic pain which aim to improve child disability and reduce maladaptive parenting behaviors. However, little is known about temporal, longitudinal associations between parent and child functioning in this population. In the present study, we conducted a secondary analysis of data from 138 families of youth with chronic pain aged 11 to 17 years old who received family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy delivered through the Internet as part of a randomized controlled trial. Measures of child disability, parent protective behavior, and parent distress were obtained at pretreatment, immediate posttreatment, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up. Latent growth modeling indicated that child disability, parent protective behavior, and parent distress improved with treatment over the 12-month study period. Latent growth modeling for parallel processes indicated that higher parent distress at pretreatment predicted less improvement in child disability over 12 months. No other predictive paths between parent and child functioning were significant. These findings indicate that parent distress may increase the risk of poor response to psychological pain treatment among youth with chronic pain. At present, parent distress is not routinely targeted in psychological interventions for pediatric chronic pain. Research is needed to determine optimal strategies for targeting parent and family factors in the treatment of pediatric chronic pain.
This study explores the pathways through which school-based mentoring relationships are associated with improvements in elementary and high school students' socio-emotional, academic, and behavioral ...outcomes. Participants in the study (N=526) were part of a national evaluation of the Big Brothers Big Sisters school-based mentoring programs, all of whom had been randomly assigned to receive mentoring at their schools over the course of one academic year. Students were assessed at the beginning and end of the school year. The results of structural equation modeling showed that mentoring relationship quality, as measured by the Youth-Centered Relationship scale and the Youth's Emotional Engagement scale, was significantly associated with positive changes in youths' relationships with parents and teachers, as measured by subscales of the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, the Teacher Relationship Quality scale, and the Hemingway Measure of Adolescent Connectedness. Higher quality relationships with parents and teachers, in turn, were significantly associated with better youth outcomes, including self-esteem, academic attitudes, prosocial behaviors, and misconduct. The effect sizes of the associations ranged from 0.12 to 0.52. Mediation analysis found that mentoring relationship quality was indirectly associated with some of the outcomes through its association with improved parent and teacher relationships. Implications of the findings for theory and research are discussed.
Objective
To develop and test a caregiver‐reported experience measure for pediatric hospital‐to‐home transitions.
Data Sources/Study Setting
Primary data were collected between 07/2014 and 05/2015 ...from caregivers within 2–8 weeks of their child's discharge from a tertiary care children's hospital.
Study Design/Data Collection
We used a step‐wise approach to developing the measure that included drafting de novo survey items based on caregiver interviews (n = 18), pretesting items using cognitive interviews (n = 18), and pilot testing revised items among an independent sample of caregivers (n = 500). Item reduction statistics and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed on a test sample of the pilot data to refine the measure, followed by CFA on the validation sample to test the final measure model fit.
Principal Findings
Of 46 initial survey items, 19 were removed after pretesting and 19 were removed after conducting item statistics and CFA. This resulted in an eight‐item measure with two domains: transition preparation (four items) and transition support (four items). Survey items assess the quality of discharge instructions, access to needed support and resources, care coordination, and follow‐up care. Practical fit indices demonstrated an acceptable model fit: χ2 = 28.3 (df = 19); root‐mean‐square error of approximation = 0.04; comparative fit index = 0.99; and Tucker–Lewis index = 0.98.
Conclusions
An eight‐item caregiver‐reported experience measure to evaluate hospital‐to‐home transition outcomes in pediatric populations demonstrated acceptable content validity and psychometric properties.
▸ Latent spline growth models described the complex pattern of growth and change within 4 key skills of the Early Communication Indicator. ▸ Examined were (a) age at onset of skill trajectories, and ...(b) peaks or inflection points in each skill defining acceleration and deceleration. ▸ A continuum of adjacent early communication skills was identified by the fit of these inflection points as intercepts and slopes in a predictive, cross-skills model of latent growth.
Progress monitoring measurement is increasingly needed in early childhood to inform practitioners when an intervention change is needed and as a tool for accomplishing individualization and improving results for individual children. The Early Communication Indicator (ECI) is such a measure for infants and toddlers 6–42 months of age. A greater understanding of the ECI key skills (i.e., gestures, vocalizations, single- and multiple-word utterances) could lead to further improvements in the sensitivity and utility of the decisions made compared to ECIs composite total communication score. Thus, we examined the pattern of growth within and between the ECI's four foundational skills in a large sample of children served in Early Head Start. Results confirmed a unique pattern of growth and change within each skill trajectory in terms of (a) age at skill onset and (b) peaks in each trajectory defining an inflection point or change from acceleration to deceleration. Using these inflection points as intercepts with before and after trajectory slopes, we tested the fit of an adjacent-skills temporally ordered growth model. Results indicated good fit. Implications of a continuum of foundational ECI skills to future validation and decision making utility of the measure are discussed.
This study assessed the economic behaviour of 383 lower-income households in Kenya and the US. Using a two-group confirmatory factor analysis, a moderation effect of gender on financial capability by ...age was found in the US group. Measurement and structural equivalence across groups were established. Specifically, younger females indicated higher levels of financial capability than younger males, while older males reported higher levels of financial capability than older females. There was no such effect among Kenyan participants. Findings point to the need for considering the sociodemographic characteristics of these households in programmes that enhance their financial capability.
ABSTRACT
Families with children and living in poverty are vulnerable to decreased control over their lives and the ability to act in self‐interest. While having children may reduce efficacy among ...these families, their presence may also, in turn, increase their resilience. Using cross‐sectional data from n= 194 poor families in Southeastern USA, this study compares the constructs of self‐efficacy and agency between families with and without children. Results showed that among families with children, lack of agency was negatively correlated with self‐efficacy Δχ2 (1, n= 194) = 12.65, P < 0.001, r=−0.37. Implications are directed towards practice and policy that may increase the efficacy and agency of poor families with children.
Attrition in developmental psychology Nicholson, Jody S.; Deboeck, Pascal R.; Howard, Waylon
International journal of behavioral development,
01/2017, Letnik:
41, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Inherent in applied developmental sciences is the threat to validity and generalizability due to missing data as a result of participant drop-out. The current paper provides an overview of how ...attrition should be reported, which tests can examine the potential of bias due to attrition (e.g., t-tests, logistic regression, Little's MCAR test, sensitivity analysis), and how it is best corrected through modern missing data analyses. To amend this discussion of best practices in managing and reporting attrition, an assessment of how developmental sciences currently handle attrition was conducted. Longitudinal studies (n = 541) published from 2009–2012 in major developmental journals were reviewed for attrition reporting practices and how authors handled missing data based on recommendations in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA, 2010). Results suggest attrition reporting is not following APA recommendations, quality of reporting did not improve since the APA publication, and a low proportion of authors provided sufficient information to convey that data properly met the MAR assumption. An example based on simulated data demonstrates bias that may result from various missing data mechanisms in longitudinal data, the utility of auxiliary variables for the MAR assumption, and the need for viewing missingness along a continuum from MAR to MNAR.
Measurement in early childhood is an increasingly large-scale endeavor addressing purposes of accountability, program improvement, child outcomes, and intervention decision making for individual ...children. The Early Communication Indicator (ECI) is a measure relevant to intervention decision making for infants and toddlers, including response to intervention approaches. The widespread use of the ECI is growing in multiple programs and states. Local program staff members collect ECI data and, with their program directors, manage their own system of ECI measurement. Program-level implementations represent independent ECI measurement replications, and the success of each potentially influences the quality of data produced and, ultimately, the validity of the inferences made thereof. The purpose of this research was to examine program-level influences on child-level ECI total communication growth and 36-month outcomes in a large sample of children, including those with individual family service plans served by multiple Early Head Start programs in two states. Results indicated variation in programs’ sociodemographic composition, ECI implementation quality, ECI total communication growth, and 36-month outcomes. Program-level sociodemographic composition was found not to be an influence on ECI growth or 36-month outcomes, whereas state location and implementation quality were. Implications are discussed.
Economic pressure has negative effects on families living in poverty that require much resilience and strength to cope. Although the strengths perspective upholds many human service values, ...literature on how it can be used to build resilience of these families is scarce. This exploratory study reports on the relationship between the constructs of economic pressure and resilience among N = 194 individuals living in extreme poverty. The authors found a significant relationship between economic pressure and resilience, with higher economic pressure being associated with less resilience. However, family income was not a significant factor between economic pressure and resilience. Discussion is directed toward practice, policy, and research in enhancing the resilience and strengths of families living in extreme poverty.
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