Fig. 1.

The MIMIC model consists of three components: a measurement model, a regression model and a direct effect estimate. In the measurement model, a continuous latent variable underlies the item responses. The latent variable is linked to a number of covariates in the regression part of the model. Finally, the direct effect is an indicator of measurement invariance and evaluates whether the response to the item “bothered” is associated with age group other than through its relationship to depression. Note: ‘e’ represents error term, γ represents factor loading, λ represents direct effect, and σ represents indirect effect.