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  1. Article ; Online: Estimating time-varying treatment effects in longitudinal studies.

    Loh, Wen Wei / Ren, Dongning

    Psychological methods

    2023  

    Abstract: Longitudinal study designs are frequently used to investigate the effects of a naturally observed predictor (treatment) on an outcome over time. Because the treatment at each time point or wave is not randomly assigned, valid inferences of its causal ... ...

    Abstract Longitudinal study designs are frequently used to investigate the effects of a naturally observed predictor (treatment) on an outcome over time. Because the treatment at each time point or wave is not randomly assigned, valid inferences of its causal effects require adjusting for covariates that confound each treatment-outcome association. But adjusting for covariates which are inevitably time-varying is fraught with difficulties. On the one hand, standard regression adjustment for variables affected by treatment can lead to severe bias. On the other hand, omitting time-varying covariates from confounding adjustment precipitates spurious associations that can lead to severe bias. Thus, either including or omitting time-varying covariates for confounding adjustment can lead to incorrect inferences. In this article, we introduce an estimation strategy from the causal inference literature for evaluating the causal effects of time-varying treatments in the presence of time-varying confounding. G-estimation of the treatment effect at a particular wave proceeds by carefully adjusting for only pre-treatment instances of all variables while dispensing with any post-treatment instances. The introduced approach has various appealing features. Effect modification by time-varying covariates can be investigated using covariate-treatment interactions. Treatment may be either continuous or noncontinuous with any mean model permitted. Unbiased estimation requires correctly specifying a mean model for either the treatment or the outcome, but not necessarily both. The treatment and outcome models can be fitted with standard regression functions. In summary, g-estimation is effective, flexible, robust, and relatively straightforward to implement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-05-11
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2103345-6
    ISSN 1939-1463 ; 1082-989X
    ISSN (online) 1939-1463
    ISSN 1082-989X
    DOI 10.1037/met0000574
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  2. Article ; Online: Adjusting for Baseline Measurements of the Mediators and Outcome as a First Step Toward Eliminating Confounding Biases in Mediation Analysis.

    Loh, Wen Wei / Ren, Dongning

    Perspectives on psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science

    2023  Volume 18, Issue 5, Page(s) 1254–1266

    Abstract: Mediation analysis prevails for researchers probing the etiological mechanisms through which treatment affects an outcome. A central challenge of mediation analysis is justifying sufficient baseline covariates that meet the causal assumption of no ... ...

    Abstract Mediation analysis prevails for researchers probing the etiological mechanisms through which treatment affects an outcome. A central challenge of mediation analysis is justifying sufficient baseline covariates that meet the causal assumption of no unmeasured confounding. But current practices routinely overlook this assumption. In this article, we suggest a relatively easy way to mitigate the risks of incorrect inferences resulting from unmeasured confounding: include pretreatment measurements of the mediator(s) and the outcome as baseline covariates. We explain why adjusting for pretreatment baseline measurements is a necessary first step toward eliminating confounding biases. We hope that such a practice can encourage explication, justification, and reflection of the causal assumptions underpinning mediation analysis toward improving the validity of causal inferences in psychology research.
    MeSH term(s) Humans ; Mediation Analysis ; Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic ; Causality ; Bias ; Models, Statistical
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-02-07
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
    ZDB-ID 2224911-4
    ISSN 1745-6924 ; 1745-6916
    ISSN (online) 1745-6924
    ISSN 1745-6916
    DOI 10.1177/17456916221134573
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  3. Article ; Online: Data-driven covariate selection for confounding adjustment by focusing on the stability of the effect estimator.

    Loh, Wen Wei / Ren, Dongning

    Psychological methods

    2023  

    Abstract: Valid inference of cause-and-effect relations in observational studies necessitates adjusting for common causes of the focal predictor (i.e., treatment) and the outcome. When such common causes, henceforth termed confounders, remain unadjusted for, they ... ...

    Abstract Valid inference of cause-and-effect relations in observational studies necessitates adjusting for common causes of the focal predictor (i.e., treatment) and the outcome. When such common causes, henceforth termed confounders, remain unadjusted for, they generate spurious correlations that lead to biased causal effect estimates. But routine adjustment for all available covariates, when only a subset are truly confounders, is known to yield potentially inefficient and unstable estimators. In this article, we introduce a data-driven confounder selection strategy that focuses on stable estimation of the treatment effect. The approach exploits the causal knowledge that after adjusting for confounders to eliminate all confounding biases, adding any remaining non-confounding covariates associated with only treatment or outcome, but not both, should not systematically change the effect estimator. The strategy proceeds in two steps. First, we prioritize covariates for adjustment by probing how strongly each covariate is associated with treatment and outcome. Next, we gauge the stability of the effect estimator by evaluating its trajectory adjusting for different covariate subsets. The smallest subset that yields a stable effect estimate is then selected. Thus, the strategy offers direct insight into the (in)sensitivity of the effect estimator to the chosen covariates for adjustment. The ability to correctly select confounders and yield valid causal inferences following data-driven covariate selection is evaluated empirically using extensive simulation studies. Furthermore, we compare the introduced method empirically with routine variable selection methods. Finally, we demonstrate the procedure using two publicly available real-world datasets. A step-by-step practical guide with user-friendly R functions is included. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-04-27
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2103345-6
    ISSN 1939-1463 ; 1082-989X
    ISSN (online) 1939-1463
    ISSN 1082-989X
    DOI 10.1037/met0000564
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  4. Article ; Online: Understated gender disparities due to outcome-dependent selection: Commentary on Mackelprang et al. (2023).

    Loh, Wen Wei / Ren, Dongning

    The American psychologist

    2023  Volume 78, Issue 6, Page(s) 811–813

    Abstract: What is the gender gap in invited publications in high-impact psychology journals? To answer this critical question, Mackelprang et al. (2023) examined invited publications in five high-impact psychology journals. They first calculated the share of women ...

    Abstract What is the gender gap in invited publications in high-impact psychology journals? To answer this critical question, Mackelprang et al. (2023) examined invited publications in five high-impact psychology journals. They first calculated the share of women among authors of the invited publications (35.6%), then compared it with a "base rate" (42.3%; the share of women among associate and full psychology professors at R1 institutions). This comparison was presented as empirical evidence of women being underrepresented in the authorship of publications in these high-impact journals. In this commentary, we show that comparing these two descriptives-either using a difference or a ratio-provides little insight into the actual gender disparity of interest. A fundamental shortcoming of such a comparison is due to outcome-dependent selection. We explain what outcome-dependent selection is and why it is inappropriate. Crucially, we explain why, following such outcome-dependent selection, comparing the share of women in the selected sample with a "base rate" rules out drawing valid inferences about the actual gender gap. We urge researchers to recognize the perils of, and thus avoid, outcome-dependent selection. Finally, we suggest an alternative approach that permits a more accurate understanding of gender disparities in academia. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
    MeSH term(s) Female ; Humans ; Research Personnel ; Gender Equity
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-08-22
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 209464-2
    ISSN 1935-990X ; 0003-066X
    ISSN (online) 1935-990X
    ISSN 0003-066X
    DOI 10.1037/amp0001167
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  5. Article: Alone in a Crowd: Is Social Contact Associated with Less Psychological Pain of Loneliness in Everyday Life?

    Stavrova, Olga / Ren, Dongning

    Journal of happiness studies

    2023  Volume 24, Issue 5, Page(s) 1841–1860

    Abstract: People are often advised to engage in social contact to cope with the experience of loneliness and improve well-being. But are the moments of loneliness actually more bearable when spent in other people's company? In this research, we proposed and tested ...

    Abstract People are often advised to engage in social contact to cope with the experience of loneliness and improve well-being. But are the moments of loneliness actually more bearable when spent in other people's company? In this research, we proposed and tested two conflicting theoretical accounts regarding the role of social contact: social contact is associated with a stronger (the amplifying account) or with a weaker (the buffering account) negative effect of loneliness on psychological well-being. Analyses of three datasets collected using ecological momentary assessments (
    Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10902-023-00661-3.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-05-04
    Publishing country Netherlands
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2016901-2
    ISSN 1573-7780 ; 1389-4978
    ISSN (online) 1573-7780
    ISSN 1389-4978
    DOI 10.1007/s10902-023-00661-3
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  6. Article ; Online: Does a pandemic context attenuate people's negative perception and meta-perception of solitude?

    Ren, Dongning / Stavrova, Olga

    International journal of psychology : Journal international de psychologie

    2022  Volume 58, Issue 2, Page(s) 134–142

    Abstract: Solitude-the state of being alone without social interactions-is a common experience in everyday life. Despite that spending time alone can be enjoyable and functional, solitude is often stigmatised: People who engage in solitary activities are perceived ...

    Abstract Solitude-the state of being alone without social interactions-is a common experience in everyday life. Despite that spending time alone can be enjoyable and functional, solitude is often stigmatised: People who engage in solitary activities are perceived negatively (negative perceptions of solitude) and anticipate a negative judgement from others (negative meta-perceptions of solitude). Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a backdrop, we examined whether a pandemic context, in which solitary behaviours were easily attributable to external reasons, would reduce people's negative perceptions and meta-perceptions of solitude. Across three preregistered experiments (total N = 767) conducted during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, we found that the presence (vs. absence) of a pandemic context attenuated both the negative meta-perceptions and the negative perceptions of solitude. Yet, people believed that the pandemic context produced a stronger shift away from the stigmatisation of solitude than it actually did. These findings revealed the limits of contextual cues in mitigating the negative perceptions of being alone-even when these cues were explicit and readily available. The current research sheds light on the potential challenges of destigmatising solitude.
    MeSH term(s) Humans ; Pandemics ; COVID-19 ; Social Perception ; Social Interaction ; Cues
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-10-28
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 1480995-3
    ISSN 1464-066X ; 0020-7594
    ISSN (online) 1464-066X
    ISSN 0020-7594
    DOI 10.1002/ijop.12885
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  7. Article ; Online: Person-specific priorities in solitude.

    Ren, Dongning / Loh, Wen Wei / Chung, Joanne M / Brandt, Mark J

    Journal of personality

    2024  

    Abstract: Objective: People value solitude in varying degrees. Theories and studies suggest that people's appreciation of solitude varies considerably across persons (e.g., an introverted person may value solitude more than an extraverted person), and solitude ... ...

    Abstract Objective: People value solitude in varying degrees. Theories and studies suggest that people's appreciation of solitude varies considerably across persons (e.g., an introverted person may value solitude more than an extraverted person), and solitude experiences (i.e., on average, people may value some functions of solitude, e.g., privacy, more than other functions, e.g., self-discovery). What are the unique contributions of these two sources?
    Method: We surveyed a quota-based sample of 501 US residents about their perceived importance of a diverse set of 22 solitude functions.
    Results: Variance component analysis reveals that both sources contributed to the variability of perceived importance of solitude (person: 22%; solitude function: 15%). Crucially, individual idiosyncratic preferences (person-by-solitude function interaction) had a substantial impact (46%). Further analyses explored the role of personality traits, showing that different functions of solitude hold varying importance for different people. For example, neurotic individuals prioritize emotion regulation, introverted individuals value relaxation, and conscientious individuals find solitude important for productivity.
    Conclusions: People value solitude for idiosyncratic reasons. Scientific inquiries on solitude must consider the fit between a person's characteristics and the specific functions a solitary experience affords. This research suggests that crafting or enhancing positive solitude experiences requires a personalized approach.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2024-01-27
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 420745-2
    ISSN 1467-6494 ; 0022-3506
    ISSN (online) 1467-6494
    ISSN 0022-3506
    DOI 10.1111/jopy.12916
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  8. Article ; Online: Cynical people desire power but rarely acquire it: Exploring the role of cynicism in leadership attainment.

    Stavrova, Olga / Ehlebracht, Daniel / Ren, Dongning

    British journal of psychology (London, England : 1953)

    2023  Volume 115, Issue 2, Page(s) 226–252

    Abstract: Do cynical individuals have a stronger desire for power and are they more likely to acquire power at work? The negative consequences of cynicism-for cynics themselves and the people around them-render the examination of these questions particularly ... ...

    Abstract Do cynical individuals have a stronger desire for power and are they more likely to acquire power at work? The negative consequences of cynicism-for cynics themselves and the people around them-render the examination of these questions particularly important. We first examined the role of cynicism in power motives. Results showed that more cynical individuals have a greater desire for power to avoid exploitation by others (and less so to exploit others; Study 1) and score higher on dominance (but not prestige or leadership) motives (Study 2). The subsequent two studies examined the role of cynicism in power attainment at work. A study of virtual teams (Study 3) showed that more cynical individuals were less likely to emerge as group leaders, and a prospective study of ~9000 employees followed for up to 10 years (Study 4) showed that cynicism predicted a lower likelihood of attaining a leadership position in organizations. Taken together, more (vs. less) cynical individuals have a stronger power-in particular, dominance-motive but they are not more successful at power acquisition. These findings inform the literature on cynicism and power and highlight the importance of cynical worldviews for leadership attainment.
    MeSH term(s) Humans ; Leadership ; Prospective Studies ; Motivation
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-11-01
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 220659-6
    ISSN 2044-8295
    ISSN (online) 2044-8295
    DOI 10.1111/bjop.12685
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  9. Article ; Online: Does dispositional preference for solitude predict better psychological outcomes during times of social distancing? Beliefs and reality.

    Ren, Dongning / Stavrova, Olga / Evans, Anthony M

    Journal of personality

    2023  Volume 91, Issue 6, Page(s) 1442–1460

    Abstract: Objective: People value solitude for themselves. Yet little is known about how people perceive dispositional preference for solitude in others. Does dispositional preference for solitude represent a protective factor from psychological distress during ... ...

    Abstract Objective: People value solitude for themselves. Yet little is known about how people perceive dispositional preference for solitude in others. Does dispositional preference for solitude represent a protective factor from psychological distress during times of social distancing? And do laypeople have accurate beliefs about the role of preference for solitude?
    Method: To answer these questions, we conducted four studies (three preregistered, N
    Results: People expected targets with a higher solitude preference to be more resilient (e.g., less lonely, more satisfied with life) during social distancing, and consequently prioritize them less when allocating supportive resources for maintaining social connections (Studies 1 and 2). Compared to these beliefs, the actual difference between individuals with higher versus lower solitude preference was smaller (Study 2) or even negligible (Study 3). Did people form more calibrated beliefs two years into the pandemic? Study 4 suggested no.
    Conclusions: Together, these studies show that people overestimate the role of preference for solitude in predicting others' psychological experience. As a result, solitude-seeking individuals may miss out on supportive resources, leading to higher risks for mental health issues.
    MeSH term(s) Humans ; Physical Distancing ; Pandemics ; Loneliness/psychology ; Personality ; COVID-19
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-02-16
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 420745-2
    ISSN 1467-6494 ; 0022-3506
    ISSN (online) 1467-6494
    ISSN 0022-3506
    DOI 10.1111/jopy.12821
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  10. Article ; Online: Leaving the Loners Alone: Dispositional Preference for Solitude Evokes Ostracism.

    Ren, Dongning / Evans, Anthony M

    Personality & social psychology bulletin

    2020  Volume 47, Issue 8, Page(s) 1294–1308

    Abstract: What are the interpersonal consequences of seeking solitude? Leading theories in developmental research have proposed that having a general preference for solitude may incur significant interpersonal costs, but empirical studies are still lacking. In ... ...

    Abstract What are the interpersonal consequences of seeking solitude? Leading theories in developmental research have proposed that having a general preference for solitude may incur significant interpersonal costs, but empirical studies are still lacking. In five studies (total
    MeSH term(s) Affect ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Personality ; Social Isolation
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-11-02
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2047603-6
    ISSN 1552-7433 ; 0146-1672
    ISSN (online) 1552-7433
    ISSN 0146-1672
    DOI 10.1177/0146167220968612
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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