Many studies in dental research are based on repeated measurements of several continuous variables. Statistical analyses of such data require advanced methods to explore the complexity of information within the data. Currently, the most frequently adopted approach is to undertake multiple univariate tests. Occasionally, more advanced and sophisticated statistical methodologies, such as multilevel modelling and generalized estimating equation, have been used. In the last decade, a novel statistical methodology known as latent growth curve modelling has been developed in the social sciences. Latent growth curve modelling can be considered a special application of structural equation modelling and is generally conducted using structural equation modelling software. Recent development of statistical theory shows that latent growth curve modelling is equivalent to multilevel modelling, and both approaches yield identical results. However, in some study designs latent growth curve modelling can provide a more flexible framework of statistical modelling than multilevel modelling and generalized estimating equation for longitudinal data. The aim of this article was to present a non-technical introduction to latent growth curve modelling for dental researchers. The emphasis was on conceptual understanding, rather than mathematical rigor, so path diagrams were used for visual presentations of various statistical models. When properly applied, latent growth curve modelling has great potential to give new directions for future longitudinal dental research.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0722.2009.00638.xDOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

latent growth
28
growth curve
28
curve modelling
28
modelling
13
multilevel modelling
12
introduction latent
8
modelling generalized
8
generalized estimating
8
estimating equation
8
structural equation
8

Similar Publications

Risk-taking is a concerning yet prevalent issue during adolescence and can be life-threatening. Examining its etiological sources and evolving pathways helps inform strategies to mitigate adolescents' risk-taking behavior. Studies have found that unfavorable environmental factors, such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), are associated with momentary levels of risk-taking in adolescents, but little is known about whether ACEs shape the developmental trajectory of risk-taking.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Self-reported drinker identity, the extent to which one views oneself as a drinker, is associated with alcohol consumption and related harms in young adults. The current study examined changes in self-reported drinker identity, theoretically relevant factors associated with drinker identity development, and drinker identity's association with changes in drinking and alcohol-related consequences. We hypothesized that drinker identity would increase over time; theoretically relevant factors would be significantly and positively associated with that increase, and increases in drinking identity would be associated with elevated drinking and related consequences.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Covalent Affibody-Molecular Glue Drug Conjugate Nanoagent for Proximity-Enabled Reactive Therapeutics.

Adv Sci (Weinh)

January 2025

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.

Sulfur-fluoride exchange (SuFEx) reaction is an emerging class of click chemistry reaction. Owing to its efficient reactivity under physiological conditions, SuFEx reaction is used to construct covalent protein drugs. Herein, a covalent affibody-molecular glue drug conjugate nanoagent is reported, which can irreversibly bind with its target protein through proximity-enabled SuFEx reaction.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous human ɣ-herpesvirus implicated in various malignancies, including Burkitt's lymphoma and gastric carcinomas. In most EBV-associated cancers, the viral genome is maintained as an extrachromosomal episome by the EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA1). EBNA1 is considered to be a highly stable protein that interacts with the ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In task-shared, mental health, and psychosocial support interventions, monitoring the quality of delivery (fidelity and competence) of nonspecialist providers is critical. Quality of delivery is frequently reported in brief, summary statistics, and while both fidelity and competence scores tend to be high, rarely have factors associated with quality of delivery in low-resource, mental health, and psychosocial support interventions been examined using inferential statistics. Understanding both modifiable and non-modifiable predictors of quality of delivery is important for adapting training and supervision approaches throughout intervention delivery.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!