Multilevel factor analysis and structural equation modeling of daily diary coping data: Modeling trait and state...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Quantitative Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Coping strategies are crucial for psychological well-being.
• Understanding the interplay between stable coping traits and daily coping states is essential.
• Previous research often treated coping as a monolithic construct, neglecting its dynamic nature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To differentiate and model within-person (state) and between-person (trait) components of coping variables.
• To introduce and apply multilevel factor analysis (MFA) and multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) to daily diary data.
• To compare the predictive utility of state and trait coping factors on affect.

Main Methods:

• Utilized multilevel modeling on daily diary data from a large, multiethnic sample (n = 366) over five days.
• Employed multilevel factor analysis (MFA) to identify stable and level-specific coping factors.
• Applied multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) to examine the prediction of daily affect.

Main Results:

• Intraclass correlations indicated roughly equal variability in coping at state and trait levels.
• Problem-Focused Coping and Social Support were identified as stable factors at both within-person and between-person levels.
• Other coping factors (Minimization, Emotional Rumination, Avoidance, Distraction) were specific to either the state or trait level, not both.
• MSEM demonstrated that the prediction of daily positive and negative affect varied based on the outcome and the level of the coping factor.

Conclusions:

• Problem-Focused Coping and Social Support exhibit both trait-like stability and state-like variability.
• The distinction between state and trait coping is crucial for understanding their differential impact on affect.
• MFA and MSEM provide robust frameworks for analyzing the complex, multi-layered nature of coping behaviors.