Autoregressive mediation model PreviousNext
Mplus Discussion > Structural Equation Modeling >
Message/Author
 Karen Kochel posted on Friday, October 24, 2008 - 9:34 am
Hello,

I have questions regarding 2 autoregressive models. The first is a 2-lag model with 2 latent constructs. The second is 2-lag mediator model with 3 latent constructs. In consulting my Mplus manual and other postings on this discussion board, I learned that, as a default, Mplus estimates covariances between exogenous variables (my Time 1 variables) and residual covariances between endogenous variables that do not influence any other variables (my Time 3 variables).

My first question is, should I estimate covariances between my Time 2 constructs? If so, why (i.e., why is this not the default in Mplus)?

Second, if the covariances/residual covariances at any time point are non-significant, do you recommend deleting them from the model?

Third, when I do not include covariances between my Time 2 constructs in the mediation model, my 'a' and 'b' paths are significant (p<.001) and mediation is significant (p<.001) according to both bc bootstrap confidence intervals and Dave MacKinnon's distribution of the product confidence interval method. When I allow my time 2 constructs to covary, however, my 'a' path becomes non-significant, and mediation is no longer significant (2 of the 3 covariances are non-significant). Can you offer any insight into this issue? Thanks in advance for your help.
 Bengt O. Muthen posted on Friday, October 24, 2008 - 6:48 pm
Yes, if it is identified, on the first question. Mplus can't easily see that this is an identified model, so it doesn't free it.

No on the second question. You specify a model you believe in and keep insignificant portions of it.

For the third question, that insignificance is more trustworthy that the significance when leaving out the time 2 residual covariance. There may be remaining misspecifications that would save the day in terms of mediation - look at the modification indices.
 A. Ardèvol posted on Thursday, January 09, 2020 - 1:59 pm
Dear Drs. Muthen:

I have a question regarding an autoregressive model with two independent variables in time 1 (IV1 and IV2), one mediator in time 1 (M), one dependent variable in time 2 (DV), and one autoregressive control in time 1 (the time 1 measure of the dependent variable, AU in the model). I do not want to use WITH between the autoregressive control and the independent variables, because exogenous variables are correlated as the default. But I do want to control the association between the autoregressive control and the mediator (both are in time 1). So this is my model:

DV ON M AU;
M ON IV1 IV2;
AU on M IV1 IV2;
IV1 IV2;


MODEL INDIRECT:

DV IND M IV1;
DV IND M IV2;

I have also considered removing IV1 and IV2 from the third line, but p value of the chi square is reduced a lot.

Does the model make sense to you? Thanks a lot in advance for your feedback and expertise.
 Bengt O. Muthen posted on Friday, January 10, 2020 - 11:43 am
This general modeling question is more suitable for SEMNET. But you can think about why you aren't regressing DV on IV1, IV2 to check for direct effects. And why you are adding the extra modeling feature of AU being a mediator in addition to M.
Back to top
Add Your Message Here
Post:
Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action: