Latent Class Analysis: A Method for Capturing Heterogeneity.

Social work researchers often use variable-centered approaches such as regression and factor analysis. However, these methods do not capture important aspects of relationships that are often imbedded in the heterogeneity of samples. Latent class analysis (LCA) is one of several person-centered appro...

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Published in:Social Work Research Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 61 - 70
Main Authors: Rosato, Nancy Scotto, Baer, Judith C.
Format: Article
Published: Oxford University Press / USA Mar2012
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Mar2012
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        atl: Latent Class Analysis: A Method for Capturing Heterogeneity.
      aug:
        au:
          Rosato, Nancy Scotto
          Baer, Judith C.
        affil:
          Visiting Assistant Research Professor, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick
          Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick
      su:
        Academic achievement
        Behavior disorders in children
        Black people
        Interviewing
        Social work research
        Adolescent health
        Socioeconomic factors
        Chi-squared test
        Child Behavior Checklist
        Statistics
        Data analysis
        Data analysis software
      sug:
        subj:
          Academic achievement
          Behavior disorders in children
          Black people
          Interviewing
          Social work research
          Adolescent health
          Socioeconomic factors
          Other Individual and Family Services
          Chi-squared test
          Child Behavior Checklist
          Statistics
          Data analysis
          Data analysis software
      keyword:
        Add Health
        latent class analysis
        mixture modeling
        person-centered analysis
        Add Health
        latent class analysis
        mixture modeling
        person-centered analysis
      ab: Social work researchers often use variable-centered approaches such as regression and factor analysis. However, these methods do not capture important aspects of relationships that are often imbedded in the heterogeneity of samples. Latent class analysis (LCA) is one of several person-centered approaches that can capture heterogeneity within and between groups. This method is illustrated in the present study, in which LCA is used to explicate differences in symptomatology in a nonclinical, national representative sample of youths. Data (N= 14,738) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were analyzed using externalizing and internalizing behavioral constructs and then validated against a number of sociodemographic characteristics and behavior outcomes typically associated with type and severity of symptomatology. Findings revealed important differences within the externalizing symptomatology construct and class differences across racial and ethnic groups, gender, age categories, and several behavior outcomes. Research and clinical implications on the importance of modeling heterogeneity using a person-centered approach are discussed.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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