Structural equation modeling in epidemiology.
Structural equation modeling (SEM) is an important statistical tool for evaluating complex relations in several research areas. In epidemiology, the use and discussion of SEM have been limited thus far. This article presents basic principles and concepts in SEM, including an application using epidemiological data analysis from a study on the determinants of cognitive development in young children, considering constructs related to organization of the child's home environment, parenting style, and the child's health status. The relations between the constructs and cognitive development were measured. The results showed a positive association between psychosocial stimulus at home and cognitive development in young children. The article presents the contributions by SEM to epidemiology, highlighting the need for an a priori theoretical model for improving the study of epidemiological questions from a new perspective.
Instituto de Matemática, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia. leiladen@ufba.br
Leila Denise Alves Ferreira
LD
Amorim
Rosemeire L
RL
Fiaccone
Carlos Antônio S T
CA
Santos
Tereza Nadya dos
TN
Santos
Lia Terezinha L P de
LT
Moraes
Nelson F
NF
Oliveira
Silvano O
SO
Barbosa
Darci Neves dos
DN
Santos
Letícia Marques dos
LM
Santos
Sheila M A
SM
Matos
Maurício L
ML
Barreto
D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012044:Regression Analysis