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This study examined alcohol use development from ages 13-20 years. The sample comprised 256 youth (50.4% female; 51.2% White, 48.8% African American) assessed annually for 6 years. A cohort-sequential latent growth model was used to model categorical alcohol use (non-use vs. use). Covariates included gender, race, income, parent marital status, risk taking, spiritual beliefs, parent alcohol use, family alcohol problems, family cohesion, friends' alcohol use, and normative peer use. The alcohol use trajectory increased steadily with age. Risk taking, friends' alcohol use, and normative peer use were positively associated with higher initial rates of alcohol use. Initial parent alcohol use and positive change in parents' and friends' alcohol use over time were related to an increase in alcohol use from ages 13-20 years. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)

Over the past 3 decades we have witnessed an increase in the complexity of theoretical models that attempt to explain development in a number of behavioral domains. The conceptual movement to examine behavior from both developmental and contextual perspectives parallels recent methodological advances in the analysis of change. These new analysis techniques have fundamentally altered how we conceptualize and study change, and have prompted researchers to identify larger frameworks to integrate knowledge. One such framework is latent growth modeling. This article presents a basic latent growth modeling approach for analyzing repeated measures data and delineates several of its extensions, including analyses for multiple populations, accelerated designs, multivariate associative models, and a framework for sample size selection and power estimation.

Developed an extension of the general latent variable growth curve modeling framework to four levels of the hierarchy. The extension merged two common analytical approaches: full information maximum likelihood (ML) latent growth modeling and limited information multilevel latent growth modeling using an ML estimator. Results for data from 250 adolescents show comparable outcomes and interpretations from the extension and regression-based techniques. (SLD)

Examined whether a Tai Chi exercise program enhanced the psychological well-being of 98 elderly individuals. Analyzed repeated measures data about participants using latent growth curve analysis. Results indicate the beneficial effects of participation in the Tai Chi program. Discusses implications related to the exercise-psychological health relationship in older adults. (SLD)

Presents a new approach that extends conventional random coefficient growth models to incorporate a categorical latent trajectory variable representing latent classes or mixtures. Provides a didactic example of this new methodology using adolescent alcohol use data and discusses the method as a tool for mapping hypotheses of development onto appropriate statistical models. (SLD)

Addressed issues of heterogeneity in multiple-stage development as it corresponded to qualitatively different development in alcohol use during adolescence for 81 adolescents in transition from middle school to high school. Results suggested the tenability of a two-piece linear development in alcohol use and the emergence of two latent classes with individually varying transition points. (SLD)

Presents an extension of the method of estimating interaction effects among latent variables to latent growth curve models developed by K. Joreskog and F. Yang (1996). Illustrates the procedure and discusses results in terms of practical and statistical problems associated with interaction analyses in latent curve models and structural equation models with latent variables. (SLD)

Reviews a single indicator approach and multiple indicator approaches that simplify testing interaction effects using structural equation modeling. An illustrative application examines the interactive effect of perceptions of competence and perceptions of autonomy on exercise-intrinsic motivation. (SLD)

An analysis of sibling data from the National Youth Survey shows the pitfalls of ignoring issues of independence and demonstrate how conventional covariance structure software can be easily adapted to handle hierarchical models, providing a new approach that models within-level and between-level covariance matrices in familial antisocial behavior. (SLD)

Discusses the utility of multilevel confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical linear modeling methods in testing measurement models in which the underlying attribute may vary as a function of levels of observation. A real dataset is used to illustrate the two approaches and their comparability. (SLD)

Presents an application of latent growth curve methodology to the analysis of longitudinal developmental change in alcohol consumption of 586 young adults, illustrating three approaches to the analysis of missing data: (1) multiple-sample structural equation modeling procedures; (2) raw maximum likelihood analyses; and (3) multiple modeling and data augmentation algorithms. (SLD)

Demonstrates the use of a general model for latent variable growth analysis that takes into account cluster sampling. Multilevel Latent Growth Modeling was used to analyze longitudinal and multilevel data for adolescent and parent substance use measured at four annual time points for 435 families. (SLD)

Researchers increasingly recognize the potential influence of the neighborhood environment on individual health and social behavior. To examine these influences, it is important to use varying measures and sources of neighborhood characteristics. Though neighborhood residents are often surveyed, the perceptions of neighborhood workers have been largely ignored. The current study documents procedures and findings from two longitudinal studies in which workers in 60 neighborhoods were surveyed about neighborhood social cohesion and social control (collective efficacy), and neighborhood problems. Results indicated that workers within neighborhoods were more homogeneous in their views of neighborhood collective efficacy and neighborhood problems than were workers across neighborhoods. In addition, not only were workers' perceptions of their neighborhoods similar to the perceptions of neighborhood residents but they also provided unique information. Overall, this study demonstrates the viability and usefulness of local workers as an additional source of neighborhood information. Keywords: neighborhoods; collective efficacy; measures; multilevel modeling

The influence of sources and types of social support in youth physical activities is investigated by conducting a survey among 372 youths. Results of the study indicated that a positive relation exists between social support and youth physical activity and it was also seen that friends were considered as the source of support for getting involved in physical activity.