This study uses latent class analysis and latent transition analysis to model and compare patterns of offending over time for males and females by: (1) identifying qualitative dimensions of offending; (2) modeling how patterns of offending change over time; and (3) exploring factors related to patterns of offending. This is a secondary analysis of data from the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transition and Crime, a longitudinal study consisting of a cohort of about 4,000 young people from secondary schools in the City of Edinburgh who responded to questionnaires administered between 1988 and 2001, when they were about 12, 13, 14, and 15 years old. Previous studies of offending have used trajectory modeling to explore the course of offending from onset to termination, but the models are generally based on a count of types of offences aggregated across individuals over time, making it difficult to determine whether individuals exhibit more versatility or specialization in offending or switch offences from one point in time to another. In addition, most of the studies on patterns of offending have focused primarily on males. An understanding of patterns of offending over time for both males and females is important for the design and selection of developmentally appropriate prevention/treatment strategies. The present study adds to the literature by (1) further exploring the small and understudied literature on offence transitions; (2) examining more closely the development of female offending separately from and in relation to male offending; and (3) exploring a range of factors (criminogenic and non-criminogenic) related to the development of offending for both males and females. While the same number of qualitative dimensions (latent classes) characterised male and female offending in this study, there were some structural differences. There was also evidence of shifts in the qualitative dimensions for males and females over time. Finally, those factors classified as criminogenic were more likely to differentiate among the latent classes than those classified as non-criminogenic.

This study uses latent class analysis and latent transition analysis to model and compare patterns of offending over time for males and females by: (1) identifying qualitative dimensions of offending; (2) modeling how patterns of offending change over time; and (3) exploring factors related to patterns of offending. This is a secondary analysis of data from the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transition and Crime, a longitudinal study consisting of a cohort of about 4,000 young people from secondary schools in the City of Edinburgh who responded to questionnaires administered between 1988 and 2001, when they were about 12, 13, 14, and 15 years old. Previous studies of offending have used trajectory modeling to explore the course of offending from onset to termination, but the models are generally based on a count of types of offences aggregated across individuals over time, making it difficult to determine whether individuals exhibit more versatility or specialization in offending or switch offences from one point in time to another. In addition, most of the studies on patterns of offending have focused primarily on males. An understanding of patterns of offending over time for both males and females is important for the design and selection of developmentally appropriate prevention/treatment strategies. The present study adds to the literature by (1) further exploring the small and understudied literature on offence transitions; (2) examining more closely the development of female offending separately from and in relation to male offending; and (3) exploring a range of factors (criminogenic and non-criminogenic) related to the development of offending for both males and females. While the same number of qualitative dimensions (latent classes) characterised male and female offending in this study, there were some structural differences. There was also evidence of shifts in the qualitative dimensions for males and females over time. Finally, those factors classified as criminogenic were more likely to differentiate among the latent classes than those classified as non-criminogenic.

No description available.

Although there has been a recent surge in research examining comorbidity between externalizing and internalizing disorders in childhood, relatively less work has examined relations between specific externalizing conditions (i.e., oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms) and their co-occurrence with specific internalizing conditions (i.e., depressive symptoms). Furthermore, little empirical work has evaluated potential underlying processes, such as emotion dysregulation, which may explain relations between co-occurring ODD and depressive symptoms. There is also a paucity of research examining developmental patterns of co-occurring ODD and depressive symptoms. In the present study, I used latent class and latent transition analyses to (a) identify groups of children based on ODD and depressive symptom levels, (b) determine whether emotion dysregulation predicted co-occurring ODD and depressive symptoms, and (c) examine developmental patterns of change and continuity in groups across middle childhood within a community-based sample. Children were characterized by three latent classes based on ODD and depressive symptom severity: a group with very low levels of ODD or depressive symptoms, an ODD-only group with low levels of symptoms, and a co-occurring ODD and depressive symptom group with moderate levels of ODD and low levels of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, emotion dysregulation predicted to the class with moderate levels of ODD and low levels of depressive symptoms, although prediction from emotion dysregulation to class membership depended on the methodology used to index emotion dysregulation. Results of the LTA analyses suggested that symptom severity was relatively stable across middle childhood, with little evidence of changes in developmental patterns of ODD and depressive symptoms. Overall, the results of this study provide an important foundation for more sophisticated empirical inquiry regarding co-occurring ODD and depressive symptoms in childhood and potential processes that may explain their onset and development. / Psychology

A multitude of research demonstrates that ADHD is associated with negative psychological correlates and outcomes among children, such as academic difficulties and peer relationship problems. Youth with ADHD also experience high rates of comorbidity or co-occurring conditions, including mood, anxiety, oppositional defiant, and conduct disorders. However, few studies have investigated the development of co-occurring psychological symptoms among youth with ADHD over time and across different developmental periods. Shared risk factors likely contribute to the development of ODD, CD, anxiety, and depression among youth with ADHD. Emotion regulation and parenting style may confer risk or resilience for the development of co-occurring symptoms, but research is wanting. The current study examined an existing sample of youth who were recruited at age 10-12 and were followed at age 12-14 and 16. Analyses aimed to (a) identify subgroups of youth varying in type and levels of ADHD and co-occurring symptoms at three different time points using latent class analyses, (b) examine stability of membership and transitions to classes that differ in levels of ADHD and co-occurring symptoms using latent transition analyses, and (c) investigate emotion regulation and parenting style as predictors of stability and transitions among classes. Results revealed different patterns of ADHD and co-occurring symptoms, including a Low Symptoms class at each time point. Classes of youth with ADHD+Externalizing problems and ADHD+Internalizing problems emerged at ages 10-12 and 12-14. At age 16, two classes with qualitatively and quantitatively different externalizing and internalizing symptoms were identified. Latent transition analyses revealed transitions into the Low Symptoms class from each time point, but also stability and transitions to other symptomatic classes. Predictor analyses indicated that emotion regulation and parenting style were associated with transitions among and stability within classes, but findings were dependent on whether classes were defined primarily by co-occurring externalizing or internalizing symptoms. Results of the present study indicate that children with ADHD are likely to exhibit a range of psychological symptoms, but the frequency and quality of co-occurring symptoms may change over time. Emotion regulation and parenting may be potential targets for enhanced interventions among youth with ADHD with and without co-occurring symptoms. / Psychology

Objectives: Adherence to psychotropic medication is poor among individuals with bipolar disorder (BD). To understand treatment experiences and associated adherence among these individuals, we developed a novel construct of Clinical Net Benefit (CNB) using psychiatric symptoms, adverse effects and overall functioning assessments. We tested whether adherence differed across classes of CNB, whether individuals transitioned between classes over time, and whether these transitions were differentially associated with adherence. Methods: Data come from individuals aged 18+ during five years of the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD). Latent class analysis identified groups of CNB. Latent transition analysis determined probabilities of transitioning between classes over time. Adherence was defined as taking 75%+ of medications as prescribed. Associations between CNB and adherence were tested using multiple logistic regression adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Five classes of CNB were identified during the first two years (high, moderately high, moderate, moderately low, low), and four classes (removing moderately high) during the last three years. Adherence did not differ across classes or time points. Medication regimens differed by class; those with higher CNB taking fewer medications had lower odds of adherence while those with lower CNB taking more medications had higher odds of adherence compared with monotherapy. Probability of transitioning from higher to lower CNB, and lower to higher CNB was greatest over time. Conclusions: CNB is heterogeneous in individuals treated for BD, and movement between classes is not uncommon. Understanding why individuals adhere despite suboptimal CNB may provide novel insights into aspects influencing adherence.

Lo scopo generale della presente tesi è quello di arricchire la letteratura sul benessere finanziario dei giovani adulti adottando metodologie di ricerca e tecniche statistiche mai applicate in questo filone di ricerca. Nello specifico, nel primo capitolo è stata utilizzata la scoping methodology, ovvero una metodologia di sintesi della letteratura, con l’obiettivo di identificare la definizione, le componenti, i predittori e gli outcome del benessere finanziario dei giovani. Nel secondo capitolo è stata applicata la Latent Transition Analysis, con l’obiettivo di identificare sottogruppi omogenei di giovani rispetto ai marcatori dell’adultità che essi hanno già raggiunto e di verificare la relazione di tali sottogruppi con il benessere finanziario dei giovani che ad essi appartengono. Il terzo capitolo propone una metodologia per sviluppare e validare nuovi strumenti di misurazione, sulla base della visione contemporanea della validità. Tale metodologia, composta da tre diversi step, è stata utilizzata per la creazione di uno strumento adatto a misurare, su un campione di giovani italiani, il benessere finanziario soggettivo. Infine, il quarto capitolo riguarda la multiple informant methodology, che è stata utilizzata per raccogliere informazioni da madre, padre e figlio sul processo di socializzazione finanziaria familiare ed il suo impatto sul benessere finanziario del figlio. / The general aim of this research work is to enrich the literature on emerging adults’ financial well-being with research methodologies and statistical techniques never previously applied in this research field. Specifically, the first chapter of this thesis concerns the scoping methodology, a knowledge synthesis methodology that I adopted to identify the emerging adults’ financial well-being definition, components, predictors and outcomes. The second chapter consists in the application of a new statistical technique, Latent Transition Analysis, that I used to identify subgroups of emerging adults homogeneous in their configuration of adult social markers already reached and to investigate the relation between these emerging adults’ subgroups and their financial well-being. The third chapter describes a three-step methodology to develop and validate new measurement instruments, based on the contemporary view of validity proposed in the last fifty years. This three-step procedure was here applied to develop and validate a new instrument measuring subjective financial well-being for an emerging adult target population. Finally, the fourth chapter concerns the multiple informant methodology that I applied to collect information about family financial socialization and its impact on the child’s financial well-being from mother, father and the emerging adult child.

當資料屬於類別型的長期追蹤資料（Longitudinal categorical data）時，除了可以透過廣義估計方程式（General estimate equation, GEE）來求解模型參數估計值外，潛在移轉分析（Latent transition analysis, LTA）法也是一種可行的資料分析方法。若資料的期數不多，也可以選擇將資料適度分群後使用羅吉斯迴歸分析（Logistic regression）法。當探討的反應變數為二元（Binary）型態，且觀察對象於每一期提供多個測量變數值的情況之下，廣義估計方程式與羅吉斯迴歸分析法的使用，文獻上常見先將所有的測量變數值加總後，以「中位數」作為分類的切割點。不同於以上兩種方法，潛在移轉分析法則是直接使用原始資料來取得觀察對象的潛在狀態相關訊息，因此與前二者的作法不同，可能導致後續的各項分析結果有所差異存在。 為了能夠了解造成中位數分類法與移轉分析法差異的可能因素，我們架構在潛在移轉分析法的模型下，以不同的參數設定來進行電腦模擬，比較各參數條件下的兩分類方法差異。結果發現各潛在狀態下的測量變數反應機率形式、第一期潛在狀態的組成比例等皆會對兩分類方法是否具有相同分類有所影響。另外，透過分析「青少年媒體使用與健康生活調查」的實際資料得知，潛在移轉分析會將大部分的觀察對象歸屬於「網路成癮」，而中位數分類法則是將大部分的觀察對象歸屬於「無網路成癮」。此外，可以注意到「沮喪」、「線上情色每星期平均使用天數」、及「父母相處狀況」這幾個控制變數與各分組結果的關聯性，於上述三種資料分析方法中有所不同。 / Several methods can be used to analyze longitudinal categorical data, as among them Latent Transition Analysis (LTA), and Generalized Linear Models estimated by Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) probably the most popular. In addition, if the number of periods is two, then with certain grouping of data, the Logistic Regression can also be applied to perform the analyses. When there are more than one manifest response variable for each study subject, LTA is able to classify the subjects in terms of the original manifest response variables and proceeds with necessary analyses. On the other hand, GEE method and Logistic Regression lack the flexibility, and require certain transformation to transform the manifest response variables into a categorical response variable first. One common way to form a binary response is to sum all manifest variables, and then taking median as a cut-point. In this study, we explore the differences of the classification resulted from LTA directly and using median as a cut-point through simulations. An empirical study is also provided to illustrate the classification differences, and the differences on the subsequent analyses using LTA, GEE method, and Logistic Regression approach.