Interaction Effects in Cross-Lagged Panel Models: SEM with Latent Interactions Applied to Work-Family Conflict, Job Satisfaction, and Gender

Researchers often combine longitudinal panel data analysis with tests of interactions (i.e., moderation). A popular example is the cross-lagged panel model (CLPM). However, interaction tests in CLPMs and related models require caution because stable (i.e., between-level, B) and dynamic (i.e., within-level, W) sources of variation are present in longitudinal data, which can conflate estimates of interaction effects. We address this by integrating literature on CLPMs, multilevel moderation, and latent interactions. Distinguishing stable B and dynamic W parts, we describe three types of interactions that are of interest to researchers: 1) purely dynamic or WxW; 2) cross-level or BxW; and 3) purely stable or BxB. We demonstrate estimating latent interaction effects in a CLPM using a Bayesian SEM in Mplus to apply relationships among work-family conflict and job satisfaction, using gender as a stable B variable. We support our approach via simulations, demonstrating that our proposed CLPM approach is superior to a traditional CLPMs that conflate B and W sources of variation. We describe higher-order nonlinearities as a possible extension, and we discuss limitations and future research directions.

Probing Latent Interactions Estimated with a Residual Centering Approach

Understanding latent interactions is an important need for the structural equation modeler. Plotting and probing latent interactions, however, has not been well defined. We describe methods for plotting and probing two- and three-way latent interactions fit with a variety of approaches (LMS/QML, residual centering, double mean centering). The methods are demonstrated through a small simulation and examples based on existing data.

Racially Motivated Hate Crimes and Incidents Against Immigrants in Lithuania

The article analyses the experiences of racially motivated hate incidents against immigrants in Lithuania, based on the data of a qualitative study. Interviews with informants in the study show that prejudice, verbal and physical violence incidents are an integral part of the daily lives of immigrants with visible ethnic and racial identities. Racist hate incidents make it possible to identify latent interactions between immigrants and local residents. Based on examples of hate incidents, the article critically analyses the typology of hate crimes by Levin and McDevitt (1993) and the limitations of its application in hate incident analysis.