ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办:中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

心理科学进展 ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (4): 717-728.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2025.0717 cstr: 32111.14.2025.0717

• 研究方法 • 上一篇    

密集追踪数据的中介效应分析

方杰1, 温忠麟2(), 董育铭3, 王晓洁3   

  1. 1广东财经大学新发展研究院, 广州 510320
    2华南师范大学心理学院/心理应用研究中心, 广州 510631
    3广东财经大学经济学院, 广州 510320
  • 收稿日期:2024-07-02 出版日期:2025-04-15 发布日期:2025-03-05
  • 通讯作者: 温忠麟, E-mail: wenzl@scnu.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金项目(32171091);教育部人文社会科学研究规划基金项目(24YJA190003);青年基金项目(23YJC190026)

Mediation analysis of intensive longitudinal data

FANG Jie1, WEN Zhonglin2(), DONG Yuming3, WANG Xiaojie3   

  1. 1Institute of New Development, Guangdong University of Finance & Economics, Guangzhou 510320, China
    2Center for Studies of Psychological Application & School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
    3The School of Economics, Guangdong University of Finance & Economics, Guangzhou 510320, China
  • Received:2024-07-02 Online:2025-04-15 Published:2025-03-05

摘要:

随着密集追踪数据在社科领域的广泛运用, 如何对密集追踪数据进行中介效应分析吸引了诸多研究者的注意。如果还是按通常追踪数据一样对待, 采用多水平模型和多水平结构方程模型进行中介效应分析, 则既忽略了变量之间的先后顺序, 也无法探究变量之间动态变化的关联。本文以1-1-1密集追踪中介模型为例, 详述了基于多水平自回归模型(MAM)及其变式(残差MAM)、动态结构方程模型(DSEM)及其变式(残差DSEM、交叉分类的DSEM)的密集追踪中介效应分析方法, 并总结出一个分析流程。用示例演示如何进行密集追踪数据的中介效应分析, 并给出了相应的Mplus和R程序。最后讨论了密集追踪数据的中介效应分析的拓展方向。

关键词: 密集追踪数据, 中介效应, 多水平自回归模型, 动态结构方程模型, 去趋势

Abstract:

With the widespread use of intensive longitudinal data in the social sciences, how to analysis intensive longitudinal mediation (ILM) effect has attracted the attention of many researchers. A conventional approach is using multilevel models or multilevel structural equation models. In that case, the temporal sequence of variables is ignored, with the dynamic relationship between variables remaining unexplored.

In this paper, taking 1-1-1 [i.e., 1 (independent at Level 1) - 1 (mediator at Level 1) - 1 (dependent at Level 1)] ILM model as an example, we summarize five types of ILM analysis approaches: 1) multilevel autoregressive model (MAM); 2) residual multilevel autoregressive model (RMAM); 3) dynamic structural equation model (DSEM); 4) residual dynamic structural equation model (RDSEM). 5) cross-classified dynamic structural equation model (cross-classified DSEM). In both RMAM and RDSEM, we first statistically remove the trend from the variables with a regression of each variable on time, and then construct the ILM model using the residuals from the previous step.

There are two methods developed for analyzing the ILM effect. One of them is based on manifest variables. The multilevel model and the temporal sequence of variables are combined to develop MAM, which is extended to RMAM when detrending is required. The other method is based on latent variables. The multilevel structural equation model and the temporal sequence of variables are combined to develop DSEM, which is extended to RDSEM when detrending is required.

In the present study, we propose a procedure to conduct ILM analysis. The first step is to decide whether one would like to get ILM effects with time changes. If yes, cross-classified DSEM should be adopted to analyze ILM effects with time changes. It is a suitable detrending approach to include time as a time-varying covariate in the cross-classified DSEM. Otherwise, one will proceed with the second step, which is to decide whether it is necessary to detrend. If detrending is necessary, RDSEM should be adopted to analyze ILM effects with individual changes. Otherwise, DSEM should be adopted to analyze ILM effects with individual changes. The third step is to check whether RDSEM or DSEM converges. If either of them converges, their result should be reported. Otherwise, MAM or RMAM should be adopted to analyze ILM effects with individual changes. This paper exemplifies how to conduct the proposed procedure and provides corresponding Mplus and R codes.

Directions for future research on mediation analysis of intensive longitudinal data are discussed at the end of the paper. According to the level of the variable, there are seven ILM models: 1-1-1, 2-1-1, 2-2-1, 2-1-2, 1-2-2, 1-2-1 and 1-1-2. However, only the first four mediation models are discussed in the existing literature, and it is found that as long as there is a level-2 variable in the ILM model, the mediation effect can only occur at level-2. The analytical methods of the last three models, 1-2-2, 1-2-1 and 1-1-2 ILM, can be inferred from those of the first four.

Key words: intensive longitudinal data, mediation, multilevel autoregressive model, dynamic structural equation model, detrending

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