Latent Curve Models: A Structural Equation Perspective

1 Introduction.

1.1 Conceptualization and Analysis of Trajectories.

1.2 Three Initial Questions About Trajectories.

1.3 Brief History of Latent Curve Models.

1.4 Organization of the Remainder of the Book.

2 Unconditional Latent Curve Model.

2.1 Repeated Measures.

2.2 General Model and Assumptions.

2.3 Identification.

2.4 Case-By-Case Approach.

2.5 Structural Equation Model Approach.

2.6 Alternative Approaches to the SEM.

2.7 Conclusions.

Appendix 2A: Test Statistics, Nonnormality, and Statistical Power.

3 Missing Data and Alternative Metrics of Time.

3.1 Missing Data.

3.2 Missing Data and Alternative Metrics of Time.

3.3 Conclusions.

4 Nonlinear Trajectories and the Coding of Time.

4.1 Modeling Nonlinear Functions of Time.

4.2 Nonlinear Curve Fitting: Estimated Factor Loadings.

4.3 Piecewise Linear Trajectory Models.

4.4 Alternative Parametric Functions.

4.5 Linear Transformations of the Metric of Time.

4.6 Conclusions.

Appendix 4A: Identification of Quadratic and Piecewise Latent Curve Models.

4A.1 Quadratic LCM.

4A.2 Piecewise LCM.

5 Conditional Latent Curve Models.

5.1 Conditional Model and Assumptions.

5.2 Identification.

5.3 Structural Equation Modeling Approach.

5.4 Interpretation of Conditional Model Estimates.

5.5 Empirical Example.

5.6 Conclusions.

6 The Analysis of Groups.

6.1 Dummy Variable Approach.

6.2 Multiple-Group Analysis.

6.3 Unknown Group Membership.

6.4 Conclusions.

Appendix 6A: Case-by-Case Approach to Analysis of Various Groups.

6A.1 Dummy Variable Method.

6A.2 Multiple-Group Analysis.

6A.3 Unknown Group Membership.

6A.4 Appendix Summary.

7 Multivariate Latent Curve Models.

7.1 Time-Invariant Covariates.

7.2 Time-Varying Covariates.

7.3 Simultaneous Inclusion of Time-Invariant and Time-Varying Covariates.

7.4 Multivariate Latent Curve Models.

7.5 Autoregressive Latent Trajectory Model.

7.6 General Equation for All Models.

7.7 Implied Moment Matrices.

7.8 Conclusions.

8 Extensions of Latent Curve Models.

8.1 Dichotomous and Ordinal Repeated Measures.

8.2 Repeated Latent Variables with Multiple Indicators.

8.3 Latent Covariates.

8.4 Conclusions.

References.

Author Index.

Subject Index.