Progressive elaboration and cross-validation of a latent class typology of adolescent alcohol involvement in a national sample

Paranormal belief, psychopathological symptoms, and well-being: Latent profile analysis and longitudinal assessment of relationships

Within non-clinical samples the relationship between paranormal belief (PB) and well-being varies as a function of level of psychopathology. Accordingly, believers are best conceptualised as a heterogeneous set of sub-groups. The usefulness of previous findings has been restricted by conceptual methodological limitations. Specifically, overreliance on cross-sectional design, the assumption that believers constitute a homogeneous group, and consideration of direct effects. Acknowledging these limitations, the present study investigated whether profile membership derived from PB and psychopathology (schizotypy and manic-depressive experience) predicted well-being (i.e., stress, somatic complaints, life satisfaction and meaning in life) across time. Concurrently, analysis assessed the mediating effect of theoretically important variables (transliminality, happiness orientation, fearful and skeptical attitude). A sample of 1736 (Mage = 52, range = 18 to 88; 883 females, 845 males, eight non-binary) completed self-report measures indexing study constructs across time points. Latent profile analysis at baseline, identified three sub-groups varying in level of PB and psychopathology at baseline: Profile 1, moderate PB and high psychopathology; Profile 2, moderate PB and psychopathology; and Profile 3, moderate PB and low psychopathology. Path analysis demonstrated that Profile 1 (the highest psychopathology scoring profile) predicted higher negative and lower positive well-being over time in comparison with the other profiles. Moreover, Transliminality and Fearful Attitude positively mediated this relationship, whereas Skeptical Attitude produced negative mediation. These outcomes supported the presence of a sophisticated process underpinning the PB and well-being relationship. Overall, PB in the absence of psychopathology had no significant influence on well-being.

Patterns of alcohol use among middle school students in rural communities: Associations with community violence exposure

Stress-coping theory posits that exposure to stressors, such as community violence, increases risk for early alcohol initiation. The current study identified patterns of alcohol use in an ethnically diverse sample of early adolescents in rural communities, and examined relations between different forms of exposure to community violence and severity of adolescents' alcohol use patterns. Participants were 5011 middle school students (46.4% non-Hispanic White, 25.5% Latinx, and 13.4% Black; 50% female) living in rural communities in the southeastern United States. Latent class analysis identified subgroups that differed in their patterns of lifetime and past 30-day alcohol use, and subgroup differences in exposure to community violence. Five subgroups were identified: abstainers (56.5%), initiators of wine and beer (12.5%); moderately frequent wine and beer users (10.3%); moderately frequent wine, beer, and liquor users who got drunk (12.0%); and highly frequent wine, beer, and liquor users who got drunk (8.6%). Subgroups differed across sex, grade, and racial-ethnic background. Subgroups characterized by severe alcohol use reported more frequent exposure to community violence and physical victimization, while controlling for nonviolent stressors. Consistent with stress-coping theory, the results indicate that experiencing physical victimization and witnessing community violence robustly relate to adolescents' high-risk alcohol use.

Structured tracking of alcohol reinforcement (STAR) for basic and translational alcohol research

There is inherent tension between methodologies developed to address basic research questions in model species and those intended for preclinical to clinical translation: basic investigations require flexibility of experimental design as hypotheses are rapidly tested and revised, whereas preclinical models emphasize standardized protocols and specific outcome measures. This dichotomy is particularly relevant in alcohol research, which spans a diverse range of basic sciences in addition to intensive efforts towards understanding the pathophysiology of alcohol use disorder (AUD). To advance these goals there is a great need for approaches that facilitate synergy across basic and translational areas of nonhuman alcohol research. In male and female mice, we establish a modular alcohol reinforcement paradigm: Structured Tracking of Alcohol Reinforcement (STAR). STAR provides a robust platform for quantitative assessment of AUD-relevant behavioral domains within a flexible framework that allows direct crosstalk between translational and mechanistically oriented studies. To achieve cross-study integration, despite disparate task parameters, a straightforward multivariate phenotyping analysis is used to classify subjects based on propensity for heightened alcohol consumption and insensitivity to punishment. Combining STAR with extant preclinical alcohol models, we delineate longitudinal phenotype dynamics and reveal putative neuro-biomarkers of heightened alcohol use vulnerability via neurochemical profiling of cortical and brainstem tissues. Together, STAR allows quantification of time-resolved biobehavioral processes essential for basic research questions simultaneous with longitudinal phenotyping of clinically relevant outcomes, thereby providing a framework to facilitate cohesion and translation in alcohol research.

Paranormal Experience Profiles and Their Association With Variations in Executive Functions: A Latent Profile Analysis

This study investigated relationships between inter-class variations in paranormal experience and executive functions. A sample of 516 adults completed self-report measures assessing personal encounter-based paranormal occurrences (i.e., Experience, Practitioner Visiting, and Ability), executive functions (i.e., General Executive Function, Working and Everyday Memory, and Decision Making) together with Emotion Regulation and Belief in the Paranormal. Paranormal belief served as a measure of convergent validity for experience-based phenomena. Latent profile analysis (LPA) combined experience-based indices into four classes based on sample subpopulation scores. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) then examined interclass differences. Results revealed that breadth of paranormal experience was associated with higher levels of executive functioning difficulties for General Executive Function, Working Memory, Decision Making, and Belief in the Paranormal. On the Everyday Memory Questionnaire, scores differed on Attention Tracking (focus loss) and Factor 3 (visual reconstruction), but not Retrieval (distinct memory failure). In the case of the Emotion Regulation Scale, class scores varied on Expressive Suppression (control), however, no difference was evident on Cognitive Reappraisal (reframing). Overall, inter-class comparisons identified subtle differences in executive functions related to experience. Since the present study was exploratory, sampled only a limited subset of executive functions, and used subjective, self-report measures, further research is necessary to confirm these outcomes. This should employ objective tests and include a broader range of executive functions.

Paranormal Belief, Thinking Style and Delusion Formation: A Latent Profile Analysis of Within-Individual Variations in Experience-Based Paranormal Facets

This study examined the degree to which within-individual variations in paranormal experience were related to belief in the paranormal, preferential thinking style, and delusion formation. A sample of 956 non-clinical adults completed measures assessing experience-based paranormal indices (i.e., paranormal experience, paranormal practitioner visiting, and paranormal ability), paranormal belief, belief in science, proneness to reality testing deficits, and emotion-based reasoning. Latent profile analysis (LPA) combined the experience-based indices to produce six underlying groups. Inter-class comparison via multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicated that both breadth and intensity of experiential factors were associated with higher belief in in the paranormal, increased proneness to reality testing deficits, and greater emotion-based reasoning. Belief in science, however, was less susceptible to experiential variations. Further analysis of reality testing subscales revealed that experiential profiles influenced levels of intrapsychic activity in subtle and intricate ways, especially those indexing Auditory and Visual Hallucinations and Delusional Thinking. Collectively, identification of profiles and inter-class comparisons provided a sophisticated understanding of the relative contribution of experiential factors to differences in paranormal belief, belief in science, proneness to reality testing deficits, and emotion-based reasoning.

Psychosocial Adjustment Across Aggressor/Victim Subgroups: A Systematic Review and Critical Evaluation of Theory

Theoretical conceptualizations of "aggressive-victims" portray them as more emotionally dysregulated and socially inept than adolescents who are either aggressive or victimized. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize the literature comparing the psychosocial adjustment of aggressor/victim subgroups (i.e., aggressive-victims, predominant-aggressors, predominant-victims, and youth with limited involvement) and determine whether empirical findings are consistent with theory, particularly regarding whether aggressive-victims possess unique and shared characteristics relative to those with other patterns of involvement in aggression. This review focuses on studies with early adolescent samples given the heightened vulnerability for aggression and victimization and the need for more effective interventions during this developmental period. A systematic search of three databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete) identified 25 studies, which varied in their sample characteristics, approach to defining subgroups, and findings regarding the unique and shared characteristics of aggressive-victims. I propose several guidelines for future research in this area and highlight several gaps in our existing knowledge. Implications for theory and prevention efforts are discussed.

Identifying typical trajectories in longitudinal data: modelling strategies and interpretations

Individual-level longitudinal data on biological, behavioural, and social dimensions are becoming increasingly available. Typically, these data are analysed using mixed effects models, with the result summarised in terms of an average trajectory plus measures of the individual variations around this average. However, public health investigations would benefit from finer modelling of these individual variations which identify not just one average trajectory, but several typical trajectories. If evidence of heterogeneity in the development of these variables is found, the role played by temporally preceding (explanatory) variables as well as the potential impact of differential trajectories may have on later outcomes is often of interest. A wide choice of methods for uncovering typical trajectories and relating them to precursors and later outcomes exists. However, despite their increasing use, no practical overview of these methods targeted at epidemiological applications exists. Hence we provide: (a) a review of the three most commonly used methods for the identification of latent trajectories (growth mixture models, latent class growth analysis, and longitudinal latent class analysis); and (b) recommendations for the identification and interpretation of these trajectories and of their relationship with other variables. For illustration, we use longitudinal data on childhood body mass index and parental reports of fussy eating, collected in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

[Patterns of Drinking Behaviors and Predictors of Class Membership among Adolescents in the Republic of Korea: A Latent Class Analysis]

PURPOSE

Despite the high drinking rates and the complexity of drinking behaviors in adolescents, insufficient attention has been paid to their drinking patterns. Therefore, we aimed to identify patterns of adolescent drinking behaviors and factors predicting the distinct subgroups of adolescent drinking behaviors.

METHODS

We analyzed nationally representative secondary data obtained in 2017. Our final sample included 24,417 Korean adolescents who had consumed at least one glass of alcohol in their lifetime. To investigate patterns of drinking behaviors, we conducted a latent class analysis using nine alcohol-related characteristics, including alcohol consumption levels, solitary drinking, timing of drinking initiation, and negative consequences of drinking. Furthermore, we investigated differences in demographics, mental health status, and characteristics of substance use across the latent classes identified in our study. To do so, we used the PROC LCA with COVARIATES statement in the SAS software.

RESULTS

We identified three latent classes of drinking behaviors: current non-drinkers (CND), binge drinkers (BD), and problem drinkers (PD). Compared to the CND class, both BD and PD classes were strongly associated with higher academic year, lower academic performance, higher levels of stress, suicidal ideation, lifetime conventional or electronic cigarette use, and lifetime use of other drugs.

CONCLUSION

Health professionals should develop and implement intervention strategies targeting individual subgroups of drinking behaviors to obtain better outcomes. In particular, health professionals should consider different characteristics across subgroups of adolescent drinking behaviors when developing the interventions, such as poor mental health status and other substance use among binge and problem drinkers.

The Impact of Item Misspecification and Dichotomization on Class and Parameter Recovery in LCA of Count Data

Mixture analysis of count data has become increasingly popular among researchers of substance use, behavioral analysis, and program evaluation. However, this increase in popularity seems to have occurred along with adoption of some conventions in model specification based on arbitrary heuristics that may impact the validity of results. Findings from a systematic review of recent drug and alcohol publications suggested count variables are often dichotomized or misspecified as continuous normal indicators in mixture analysis. Prior research suggests that misspecifying skewed distributions of continuous indicators in mixture analysis introduces bias, though the consequences of this practice when applied to count indicators has not been studied. The present work describes results from a simulation study examining bias in mixture recovery when count indicators are dichotomized (median split; presence vs. absence), ordinalized, or the distribution is misspecified (continuous normal; incorrect count distribution). All distributional misspecifications and methods of categorizing resulted in greater bias in parameter estimates and recovery of class membership relative to specifying the true distribution, though dichotomization appeared to improve class enumeration accuracy relative to all other specifications. Overall, results demonstrate the importance of accurately modeling count indicators in mixture analysis, as misspecification and categorizing data can distort study outcomes.

Stressful life events influence transitions among latent classes of alcohol use

Stressful life events (SLEs) have been associated with an increased risk of heavy drinking, suggesting individuals may use alcohol to cope with negative life events. However, little research has explored the extent to which SLEs have different effects on later alcohol use based on one's current alcohol use pattern. We replicated prototypical patterns of alcohol use via latent class analysis at Waves 2, 3, and 4 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 4,569). Latent transition analysis was then used to examine the extent to which SLEs influenced the likelihood of stability or change in class membership from adolescence to early adulthood. Results suggested that adolescents were more likely to transition into different patterns of alcohol use as they entered early adulthood but were more likely to retain the same drinking pattern once in early adulthood. Among those who typically abstained, experiencing SLEs was associated with greater odds of transitioning to heavier drinking or problematic patterns of alcohol use. However, among those who had heavy or problematic alcohol use patterns, SLEs were associated with greater odds of decreasing alcohol use to either heavy or abstaining levels. Results suggest those who previously abstained may begin to use alcohol as a coping mechanism following stressful events, whereas those who drank heavily may decrease or abstain from alcohol use following life stress as a means of enacting positive life changes. The results encourage further study into factors that differentiate changes in alcohol use among light drinkers following SLEs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Latent Profile Analysis of Schizotypy and Paranormal Belief: Associations with Probabilistic Reasoning Performance

This study assessed the extent to which within-individual variation in schizotypy and paranormal belief influenced performance on probabilistic reasoning tasks. A convenience sample of 725 non-clinical adults completed measures assessing schizotypy (Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences; O-Life brief), belief in the paranormal (Revised Paranormal Belief Scale; RPBS) and probabilistic reasoning (perception of randomness, conjunction fallacy, paranormal perception of randomness, and paranormal conjunction fallacy). Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified four distinct groups: class 1, low schizotypy and low paranormal belief (43.9% of sample); class 2, moderate schizotypy and moderate paranormal belief (18.2%); class 3, moderate schizotypy (high cognitive disorganization) and low paranormal belief (29%); and class 4, moderate schizotypy and high paranormal belief (8.9%). Identification of homogeneous classes provided a nuanced understanding of the relative contribution of schizotypy and paranormal belief to differences in probabilistic reasoning performance. Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that groups with lower levels of paranormal belief (classes 1 and 3) performed significantly better on perception of randomness, but not conjunction problems. Schizotypy had only a negligible effect on performance. Further analysis indicated that framing perception of randomness and conjunction problems in a paranormal context facilitated performance for all groups but class 4.

Confirmatory Latent Class Analysis

Most applications of person-centered methodologies have relied on data-driven approaches to class enumeration. As person-centered analyses grow in popularity within organizational research, confirmatory approaches may be sought to provide more stringent theoretical tests and to formalize replication efforts. Confirmatory latent class analysis (LCA) is achieved through placement of modeling constraints, yet there is variation in the types of potential constraints and a lack of standardization in evaluating model fit in published work. This article provides a comprehensive framework for operationalizing model constraints and demonstrates confirmatory LCA via two illustrations: (a) a dual sample approach ( n = 1,366 and n = 1,367 in exploratory and validation samples, respectively) and (b) confirmatory testing of a hypothesized latent class structure ( n = 1,483). We depict operationalization of threshold boundary and/or equality constraints under both illustrations to generate a confirmatory latent class structure, and explain methods of model evaluation and comparison to alternative models. The confirmatory model was well supported under the dual sample approach, and partially supported under the hypothesis-driven approach. We discuss decision making at various points of model estimation and end with future methodological developments.

Prior Delinquency and Depression Differentially Predict Conditional Associations Between Discrete Patterns of Adolescent Religiosity and Adult Alcohol Use Patterns

Prior research has demonstrated that adolescent delinquency and depression are prospectively related to adult alcohol use and that adolescent religiosity may influence these relationships. However, such associations have not been investigated using person-centered approaches that provide nuanced explorations of these constructs. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we examined whether adolescent delinquency and depression differentiated typologies of adult alcohol users and whether these relationships varied across religiosity profiles. Three typologies of self-identified Christian adolescents and 4 types of adult alcohol users were identified via latent profile analysis. Delinquency and depression were related to increased likelihood of membership in heavy drinking or problematic alcohol use profiles, but this relationship was most evident among those likely to be involved in religious practices. These results demonstrate the importance of person-centered approaches in characterizing the influences of internalizing and externalizing behaviors on subsequent patterns of alcohol use.

Don't throw away the champagne with the cork-age at first drink revisited

Several important but potentially addressable concerns about age of first drink (AFD) are provided cogently by Kuntsche et al. However, these limitations do not serve as a solid foundation for dismissing early prevention approaches and the extensive developmental research that has supported them in favor of secondary interventions.