A Penalized Likelihood Method for Structural Equation Modeling.

A penalized likelihood (PL) method for structural equation modeling (SEM) was proposed as a methodology for exploring the underlying relations among both observed and latent variables. Compared to the usual likelihood method, PL includes a penalty term to control the complexity of the hypothesized model. When the penalty level is appropriately chosen, the PL can yield an SEM model that balances the model goodness-of-fit and model complexity.

Mid-life socioeconomic status, depressive symptomatology and general cognitive status among older adults: inter-relationships and temporal effects.

Background: Few longitudinal studies have analyzed how socioeconomic status (SES) influences both depressive and cognitive development over an individual's life course. This study investigates the change trajectories of both depressive symptomatology and general cognitive status, as well as their associations over time, focusing on the effects of mid-life SES.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (1993-2007), a nationally representative cohort study of older adults in Taiwan.

Applying the ICF-CY framework to examine biological and environmental factors in early childhood development.

Background/purpose: Previous cohort studies for the general pediatric population had a limited focus on either environmental or biological influences, or a specific theoretical framework. The child's development, however, is a composite of physical, mental, social, environmental, and personal factors. The framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Children and Youth Version (ICF-CY) provides a comprehensive model for investigating the influential factors of child development within a biopsychosocial perspective.

Estimating the Reliability of Aggregated and Within-Person Centered Scores in Ecological Momentary Assessment.

A procedure for estimating the reliability of test scores in the context of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) was proposed to take into account the characteristics of EMA measures. Two commonly used test scores in EMA were considered: the aggregated score (AGGS) and the within-person centered score (WPCS). Conceptually, AGGS and WPCS represent the interindividual differences and the intraindividual differences, respectively.

Economic strain and well-being in late life: findings from an 18-year population-based Longitudinal Study of older Taiwanese adults.

Background: This study estimates the concurrent and longitudinal effects of perceived economic strain and socioeconomic status (SES) on well-being of older adults in Taiwan.

Methods: This study uses data from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging, a nationally representative sample (n= 3602) of older adults aged 60 and above. Participants were interviewed and followed for 18 years.

Social participation reduces depressive symptoms among older adults: an 18-year longitudinal analysis in Taiwan.

Background: Relatively little empirical attention has focused on the association between social participation and depressive symptoms amongst older adults in Asian nations, where persons over the age of 65 represent a rapidly growing segment of the population. This study explores the dynamic relationship between participation in social activities and trajectories of depressive symptomatology among older Taiwanese adults surveyed over 18 years.

Methods: Data are from a nationally representative sample of 1,388 adults aged 60-64 first surveyed in 1989 and followed over an 18-year time period for a total of six waves.

Construct validity of the Comprehensive Developmental Inventory for Infants and Toddlers.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the construct validity of the diagnostic test, the Comprehensive Developmental Inventory for Infants and Toddlers (CDIIT).

Methods: A total of 1085 children in four age groups (infant, 1-year-old, 2-year-old, preschool age) were enrolled. The Developmental Quotient of each subdomain of the five CDIIT subtests (Cognition, Language, Motor, Social, and Self-help) was used as the basic unit for factor analysis with the iterative principle factor method and promax rotation.

Diabetes mellitus and functional impairment in Taiwanese older men and women.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is strongly related to many kinds of functional impairment, even after adjusting for demographic and comorbid conditions. The current study examined sex differences in the relationships between Type 2 diabetes mellitus and functional impairment in an Asian population sample. Data were obtained from a national survey, the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study (SEBAS) in Taiwan.

Social relations and PTSD symptoms: a prospective study on earthquake-impacted adolescents in Taiwan.

This prospective longitudinal study examined two competing models, a traditional social support model and a supportive and detrimental social relations model, to clarify the association of PTSD symptoms with supportive and detrimental social relations. Seven-hundred five adolescents living near the epicenter of the Taiwan Chi-Chi Earthquake participated in the study. The models were evaluated and cross-validated using structural equation modeling.

An effect size index for comparing two independent alpha coefficients.

Since Cronbach proposed the alpha coefficient in 1951, researchers have contributed to the derivation of its sampling distribution and the testing of related statistical hypotheses. Yet, there has been no research on effect size index relevant to coefficient alpha to our knowledge. Considering the importance of effect size in understanding quantitative research findings, we therefore developed an effect size index Delta for the comparison of two independent alphas with equal test length based on the asymptotic distribution of (1/2)ln(1 - alphahat) under the assumptions of normality and compound symmetry.

Preliminary study of a scale measuring depression and somatic symptoms.

This description concerns the development of a scale measuring depression and somatic symptoms and the selection of its items for a Taiwanese sample. 102 Taiwanese outpatients (28 men, 74 women) with major depressive disorder completed a 44-item preliminary scale. All had experienced a major depressive episode but had not been treated by antidepressants within the prior two weeks.

Psychometric testing of the social support survey on a Taiwanese sample.

Background: The Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SS) is a multidimensional, self-administered instrument used to assess various functional dimensions of social support. Less is known regarding its value for a Chinese population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the MOS-SS on an adult sample in Taiwan.

Depression and somatic symptoms scale: a new scale with both depression and somatic symptoms emphasized.

The authors' preliminary study selected 22 items for Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale (DSSS), including depression subscale (DS) and somatic subscale (SS). The aim of the study was to test reliability and validity of the DSSS. The study enrolled 135 consecutive outpatients (34 male and 101 female) experiencing a major depressive episode (the MDE group), 95 of whom (25 male and 70 female) accepted 1 month of treatment (the treatment group).