Modeling Behavior as Dynamic Sequential States: Introduction to the Special Issue

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-8
Author(s):  
Brian P. Flaherty ◽  
Lawrence M. Scheier
Keyword(s):  
Latent Class ◽  
Dynamic Change ◽  
Qualitative Change ◽  
Response Patterns ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Transition Analysis ◽  
Modeling Behavior ◽  
Discrete Change ◽  
Over Time

This special issue of Evaluation and The Health Professions focuses on applications and extensions of latent transition analysis (LTA), a longitudinal parameterization of the latent class (LC) model. LTA is a model of discrete or qualitative change over time among potentially complex states (e.g., patterns of recent drug use or abuse experiences), commonly referred to as latent classes, latent profiles, or latent statuses. Frequently, researchers will distinguish the term “classes” for cross-sectional studies and with LTA use “statuses” to indicate the concept of “dynamic change” with individuals shifting in their response patterns and associated statuses over time. It goes without saying that LTA models are underutilized, although quite flexible. This special issue showcases articles that apply LTA and extend the capabilities of this approach to modeling discrete change in new ways.

scholarly journals Stability of ARDS subphenotypes over time in two randomised controlled trials

Thorax ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 439-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Delucchi ◽  
Katie R Famous ◽  
Lorraine B Ware ◽  
Polly E Parsons ◽  
B Taylor Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Lung Protective Ventilation ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Transition Analysis ◽  
Class 1 ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Over Time

RationaleTwo distinct acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) subphenotypes have been identified using data obtained at time of enrolment in clinical trials; it remains unknown if these subphenotypes are durable over time.ObjectiveTo determine the stability of ARDS subphenotypes over time.MethodsSecondary analysis of data from two randomised controlled trials in ARDS, the ARMA trial of lung protective ventilation (n=473; patients randomised to low tidal volumes only) and the ALVEOLI trial of low versus high positive end-expiratory pressure (n=549). Latent class analysis (LCA) and latent transition analysis (LTA) were applied to data from day 0 and day 3, independent of clinical outcomes.Measurements and main resultsIn ALVEOLI, LCA indicated strong evidence of two ARDS latent classes at days 0 and 3; in ARMA, evidence of two classes was stronger at day 0 than at day 3. The clinical and biological features of these two classes were similar to those in our prior work and were largely stable over time, though class 2 demonstrated evidence of progressive organ failures by day 3, compared with class 1. In both LCA and LTA models, the majority of patients (>94%) stayed in the same class from day 0 to day 3. Clinical outcomes were statistically significantly worse in class 2 than class 1 and were more strongly associated with day 3 class assignment.ConclusionsARDS subphenotypes are largely stable over the first 3 days of enrolment in two ARDS Network trials, suggesting that subphenotype identification may be feasible in the context of clinical trials.

scholarly journals Where are Children Active and Does it Matter for Physical Activity? A Latent Transition Analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 1294-1300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Colabianchi ◽  
Jamie L. Griffin ◽  
Kerry L. McIver ◽  
Marsha Dowda ◽  
Russell R. Pate
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Latent Transition Analysis ◽  
Latent Classes ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Transition Analysis ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Latent Transition ◽  
Over Time

Background:Numerous studies have focused on the role of environments in promoting physical activity, but few studies have examined the specific locations where children are active and whether being active in these locations is associated with physical activity levels over time.Methods:Self-reported locations of where physical activity occurred and physical activity measured via accelerometry were obtained for a cohort of 520 children in 5th and 6th grades. Latent class analysis was used to generate classes of children defined by the variety of locations where they were active (ie, home, school grounds, gyms, recreational centers, parks or playgrounds, neighborhood, and church). Latent transition analyses were used to characterize how these latent classes change over time and to determine whether the latent transitions were associated with changes in physical activity levels.Results:Two latent classes were identified at baseline with the majority of children in the class labeled as ‘limited variety.’ Most children maintained their latent status over time. Physical activity levels declined for all groups, but significantly less so for children who maintained their membership in the ‘greater variety’ latent status.Conclusions:Supporting and encouraging physical activity in a variety of locations may improve physical activity levels in children.

scholarly journals Analysing Transitions in Intimate Relationships with Panel Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Feldhaus ◽  
Richard Preetz
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Intimate Relationships ◽  
Union Formation ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Demographic Research ◽  
Longitudinal Methods ◽  
Causal Mechanisms ◽  
Over Time

Panel data on intimate relationships are becoming increasingly available, enabling a closer examination and deeper understanding of why and how they develop over time. The aim of this review is to illustrate to what extent demographic research has made progress in understanding the dynamics of intimate relationships by examining panel data. We focus on hypotheses about key transitions throughout the progression of intimate relationships, ranging from union formation up to cohabitation, marriage, divorce and repartnering. For every hypothesis, we will present findings from cross-sectional data and illustrate whether the use of panel data and longitudinal methods modified the previous understandings of transitions in intimate relationships. * This article belongs to a special issue on "Identification of causal mechanisms in demographic research: The contribution of panel data".

Dietary patterns of Australian children at three and five years of age and their changes over time: A latent class and latent transition analysis

Appetite ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 129 ◽  
pp. 207-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Pitt ◽  
Cate M. Cameron ◽  
Lukar Thornton ◽  
Danielle Gallegos ◽  
Ania Filus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Latent Transition Analysis ◽  
Transition Analysis ◽  
Latent Transition ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Over Time

scholarly journals Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence: Navigating the absence of a gold standard

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257743
Author(s):  
Sahar Saeed ◽  
Sheila F. O’Brien ◽  
Kento Abe ◽  
Qi-Long Yi ◽  
Bhavisha Rathod ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Latent Class Model ◽  
Credible Interval ◽  
Latent Class Models ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Class Models ◽  
Over Time

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence studies bridge the gap left from case detection, to estimate the true burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. While multiple anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays are available, no gold standard exists. Methods This serial cross-sectional study was conducted using plasma samples from 8999 healthy blood donors between April-September 2020. Each sample was tested by four assays: Abbott SARS-Cov-2 IgG assay, targeting nucleocapsid (Abbott-NP) and three in-house IgG ELISA assays (targeting spike glycoprotein, receptor binding domain, and nucleocapsid). Seroprevalence rates were compared using multiple composite reference standards and by a series of Bayesian Latent Class Models. Result We found 13 unique diagnostic phenotypes; only 32 samples (0.4%) were positive by all assays. None of the individual assays resulted in seroprevalence increasing monotonically over time. In contrast, by using the results from all assays, the Bayesian Latent Class Model with informative priors predicted seroprevalence increased from 0.7% (95% credible interval (95% CrI); 0.4, 1.0%) in April/May to 0.7% (95% CrI 0.5, 1.1%) in June/July to 0.9% (95% CrI 0.5, 1.3) in August/September. Assay characteristics varied over time. Overall Spike had the highest sensitivity (93.5% (95% CrI 88.7, 97.3%), while the sensitivity of the Abbott-NP assay waned from 77.3% (95% CrI 58.7, 92.5%) in April/May to 64.4% (95% CrI 45.6, 83.0) by August/September. Discussion Our results confirmed very low seroprevalence after the first wave in Canada. Given the dynamic nature of this pandemic, Bayesian Latent Class Models can be used to correct for imperfect test characteristics and waning IgG antibody signals.

The Solution Strategy as an Indicator of the Developmental Stage of Preschool Children’s Mental-Rotation Ability

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Quaiser-Pohl ◽  
Anna M. Rohe ◽  
Tobias Amberger
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Mental Rotation ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Preschool Age ◽  
Stage Model ◽  
Solution Strategy ◽  
Thinking Aloud ◽  
Transition Analysis ◽  
Solution Strategies ◽  
Close Relationship

The solution strategies of preschool children solving mental-rotation tasks were analyzed in two studies. In the first study n = 111 preschool children had to demonstrate their solution strategy in the Picture Rotation Test (PRT) items by thinking aloud; seven different strategies were identified. In the second study these strategies were confirmed by latent class analysis (LCA) with the PRT data of n = 565 preschool children. In addition, a close relationship was found between the solution strategy and children’s age. Results point to a stage model for the development of mental-rotation ability as measured by the PRT, going from inappropriate strategies like guessing or comparing details, to semiappropriate approaches like choosing the stimulus with the smallest angle discrepancy, to a holistic or analytic strategy. A latent transition analysis (LTA) revealed that the ability to mentally rotate objects can be influenced by training in the preschool age.

scholarly journals Changing landscape of nutrition and dietetics research? A bibliographic analysis of top-tier published research in 1998 and 2018

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Sze Lin Yoong ◽  
Jacklyn Jackson ◽  
Courtney Barnes ◽  
Nicole Pearson ◽  
Taren Swindle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Design ◽  
Dissemination And Implementation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Bibliographic Analysis ◽  
Type Design ◽  
Study Type ◽  
Nutrition And Dietetics ◽  
Published Research ◽  
Research Type ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Objective: The current study sought to describe and compare study type, research design and translation phase of published research in nutrition and dietetic journals in 1998 and 2018. Design: This was a repeat cross-sectional bibliographic analysis of Nutrition and Dietetics research. All eligible studies in the top eight Nutrition and Dietetics indexed journals in 1998 and 2018 were included. Two independent reviewers coded each study for research design (study type and study design) and translation phase (T0-T4) of the research using seminal texts in the field. Setting: Not relevant. Participants: Not relevant. Results: The number of publications (1998, n 1030; 2018, n 1016) has not changed over time, but the research type, design and translation phases have. The proportion of intervention studies in 1998 (43·8 %) was significantly higher than 2018 (19·4 %). In 2018, more reviews (46·9 % v. 15·6 % in 1998) and less randomised trials (14·3 % v. 37·8 % in 1998) were published. In regard to translation phase, there was a higher proportion of T2–T4 research in 2018 (18·3 % v. 3·8 % in 1998); however, the proportion of T3/T4 (dissemination, implementation and population-level research) research was still low (<3 %). Our sensitivity analysis with the four journals that remained in the top eight journal across the two time periods found no differences in the research type, design and translation phases across time. Conclusions: There was a reduction in intervention and T0 publications, alongside higher publication of clinical study designs over time; however, published T3/T4 research in Nutrition and Dietetics is low. A greater focus on publishing interventions and dissemination and implementation may be needed.

Are neighborhood restaurants related to frequency of restaurant meals and dietary quality?: Prevalence and changes over time in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
Amy H. Auchincloss ◽  
Jingjing Li ◽  
Kari A. B. Moore ◽  
Manuel Franco ◽  
Mahasin S. Mujahid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Longitudinal Analyses ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cross Sectional Analysis ◽  
Eating Out ◽  
Restaurant Meals ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Objective: To examine whether the density of neighbourhood restaurants affected the frequency of eating restaurant meals and subsequently affected diet quality. Design: Cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. Structural equation models assessed the indirect relationship between restaurant density (≤3 miles (4.8 km) of participant addresses) and dietary quality (Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI)) via the frequency of eating restaurant meals, after adjustment for sociodemographics, select health conditions, region, residence duration and area-level income. Setting: Urbanised areas in multiple regions of the USA, years 2000–2002 and 2010–2012. Participants: Participants aged 45–84 years were followed for 10 years (n 3567). Results: Median HEI (out of 100) was 59 at baseline and 62 at follow-up. Cross-sectional analysis found residing in areas with a high density of restaurants (highest ranked quartile) was associated with 52% higher odds of frequently eating restaurant meals (≥3 times/week, odds ratio [OR]:1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-1.98) and 3% higher odds of having lower dietary quality (HEI lowest quartile<54, OR:1.03,CI:1.01-1.06); associations were not sustained in longitudinal analyses. Cross-sectional analysis found 34% higher odds of having lower dietary quality for those who frequently ate at restaurants (OR:1.34,CI:1.12-1.61); and more restaurant meals (over time increase ≥1 times/week) was associated with higher odds of having worse dietary quality at follow-up (OR:1.21,CI:1.00-1.46). Conclusions: Restaurant density was associated with frequently eating out in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses but was associated with the lower dietary quality only in cross-sectional analyses. Frequent restaurant meals were negatively related to dietary quality. Interventions that encourage less frequent eating out may improve population dietary quality.

scholarly journals Introduction to the special issue: multiple jobholding in Europe

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-147
Author(s):  
Wieteke Conen ◽  
Karin Schulze Buschoff
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Labour Market Flexibility ◽  
Employment Situation ◽  
Over Time

In a number of European countries there is a clear trend towards increased multiple jobholding. As things stand, however, little is known about the structure and the potential consequences of this increase, notably in terms of quality of work and social protection. This special issue focuses on contemporary forms of multiple jobholding in Europe. Have the structure, nature and dynamics of multiple jobholding changed over time? What are the roles of labour market flexibility, technological change and work fragmentation in the development of multiple jobholding? And do multiple jobholders benefit from similar and adequate employment terms, conditions and protections compared with single jobholders, or are they worse off as a consequence of their (fragmented) employment situation? What implications do these findings have for unions, policy-makers and the regulation of work? The collection of articles in this special issue adds to the literature on emerging forms of employment in the digital age and challenges for social protection, also in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This introduction initiates a discussion of central debates on multiple jobholding and presents a synopsis of the articles in this issue.

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