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Mplus Discussion > Growth Modeling of Longitudinal Data >
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 Robert Tilgi posted on Friday, June 01, 2012 - 6:21 am
Hey everyone,
At the moment I try to create a growth curve for anxiety over seven sequenced measure points. I would like to determine the slope factor as a linear function of the passed time. Besides the Intercept-parameter shall be explained through a few person-specific covariates (GE,SEB,ASK,FSSK,ERW,EXT,WI). Overall it shall become a multilevel analysis with longitudinal data.
Since now I have written the following command:

title: Computing the growth curve
data: file = DataforLWK.dat;
variable: names = PA1,PA2,PA3,PA4,PA5,PA6,PA7,GE,SEB,ASK,FSSK,ERW,EXT,WI;
missing = all (-99);
model: interc linear | PA1@0 PA2@1 PA3@2 PA4@3 PA5@4 PA6@5 PA7@6;
interc on GE,SEB,ASK,FSSK,ERW,EXT,WI;
output: sampstat standardized stdyx;
plot: type = plot3;
series = PA1 (linear) PA2 (linear) PA3 (linear)
PA4 (linear) PA5 (linear) PA6 (linear);

Is this command correct?

Rolph
 Robert Tilgi posted on Friday, June 01, 2012 - 6:21 am
I’m confused by one thing: When I run the command and display the graphic "Sample & estimated means", the estimated means show a horizontal curve. But I thought that I made clear that the curve should gain linearly ("interc linear | PA1@0 PA2@1 PA3@2 PA4@3 PA5@4 PA6@5 PA7@6"). Can someone help me with that?
Many thanks!
 Linda K. Muthen posted on Friday, June 01, 2012 - 3:56 pm
What is the mean of linear? See TECH4 to find it.
 Robert Tilgi posted on Saturday, June 02, 2012 - 8:22 am
The estimated mean of linear is -0.003. What shall I do now?
 Linda K. Muthen posted on Saturday, June 02, 2012 - 2:44 pm
This value is the average slope of the growth curve. It is zero or flat -- a horizontal line. Look at your observed means. They probably show this same trend.
 Robert Tilgi posted on Sunday, June 03, 2012 - 8:15 am
But my theory says that the values should rise linearly. Can't I estimate a model with, let's say, has a growth of 1 instead of zero?
 Linda K. Muthen posted on Sunday, June 03, 2012 - 12:30 pm
Your data does not seem to agree with your theory. The results show what is found in the data.
 holly Andrewes posted on Sunday, January 18, 2015 - 2:47 am
Dear Dr Muthens,

I have a question relating to the difference between MLM and the Structural Equation Modeling approach to LGCM in MPLUS. From my understanding, the MLM differs from LGCM because data can be inputted as real time scores rather than estimated time parameters, as it is dealt with in LGCM. Is it therefore correct that MLM can produce different results for models, which have varying times of observations, and is often preferred for this type of modeling? I am also aware the MPLUS uses a multivariate approach (treating the model as 1-level - as it would be treated in LGCM), does this mean that both the MLM (type = two level random) and LGCM (type = random) produce the same results in MPLUS because they are both essentially one-level models?

I have been running a quadratic model with varying times of observations using Type = Random (LGCM) in MPLUS. If MPLUS produce different results for the MLM and LGCM methods of modeling, I am wondering if I need to also run this model using a 2-level MLM to see if I produce the same results (therefore, justifying my choice of modeling)? If so, is it possible to refer me to an example of the required input for a MLM in MPLUS? Unfortunately I can't seem to find anything similar.

I'm sorry for asking multiple questions at once. Thank you very much for your help!
 Bengt O. Muthen posted on Sunday, January 18, 2015 - 5:49 pm
You will find some answers in the UG ex 9.16.

The UG ex 6.12 Type=Random approach should give the same answers as with the ex 9.16 approach.

If this doesn't help, send input, output, data, and license number to Support.
 holly Andrewes posted on Sunday, January 18, 2015 - 7:03 pm
Thanks very much for your quick response Dr Muthens!

Just to clarify - is my understanding that MPLUS treats both MLM (Type = two level random) and LGCM (Type = random) as one-level models (using a general latent growth framework) correct? Therefore, does it also always treat time as estimated parameters rather than real time scores? This would reason that both models produce the same results in MPLUS. Please let me know if my thinking here is incorrect.

Thank you in advance for your reply.
 Bengt O. Muthen posted on Monday, January 19, 2015 - 4:33 pm
Type=Random using AT to handle individually-varying times of observations as in ex 6.12 uses a wide, single-level approach where the time scores are variables, not parameters that can be estimated. You can tell from the output that it is a wide approach in that you get a residual variance for the outcome at each time point. In contrast, Type=Twolevel as in ex 9.16 uses a long, two-level approach. The time scores are variables here also. The two approaches give the same answer if (1) the time scores are the same and (2) is the residual variances are held equal in the wide approach.

The time scores are parameters, not variables, only in the case where you don't use AT and take the single-level, wide approach that is the standard Mplus approach to growth when individuals have the same times of observation.
 Simone Croft posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2015 - 5:46 pm
Hello,

is it possible to get mean scores for latent variables? I have four LVs observed at different time points and I want to compare the means to the growth curve.

Thanks in advance.
 Bengt O. Muthen posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 - 4:04 pm
Use the FSCORES option - see the UG.
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