The analysis compares four nested models with progressively relaxed constraints to test measurement invariance:
- M1 (Full Equality): All parameters constrained equal across sex groups - tests whether males and females show identical growth patterns in all respects
- M2 (Equal Variances/Covariances): Relaxes latent mean constraints, allowing groups to differ in average intercepts and slopes while maintaining equal variances and covariances
- M3 (Equal Loadings/Residuals): Further relaxes variance/covariance constraints, permitting group differences in individual variability around mean trajectories
- M4 (Metric Invariance): The least constrained model, requiring only equal factor loadings across groups - establishes that time points are measured on the same scale for both groups
Model comparison uses chi-square difference tests to evaluate whether relaxing constraints significantly improves fit. Non-significant differences suggest the more constrained model is adequate, supporting equivalent measurement and structural parameters across groups.
sem_diagram <- semPaths(
fit$M1, what = "path", whatLabels = "par", style = "lisrel", nCharNodes = 0, layout = "tree", residuals = FALSE, curvePivot = TRUE, intercepts = FALSE, edge.label.cex = 0.8, sizeMan = 7, sizeLat = 10, group.label = TRUE
)
png(
filename = "sem_diagram.png",
width = 1200,
height = 900,
res = 150
)