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. 2021 Apr 28;30(12):3309–3322. doi: 10.1007/s11136-021-02846-w

Table 3.

Outline of the indicated paths in the model (see Fig. 1)

Paths coming from the Antecedents
 A1: Antecedents at time 1 may affect the response to the measure at each time point (note: only the line to the measure at time 1 is depicted as the effect at time 2 is carried through Me1 1)
 A2: Antecedents may influence the occurrence of a catalyst. For example, a genetic predisposition and smoking history (antecedents) may cause lung cancer (the catalyst)
 A3: Antecedents may influence the level of the construct at each time point (note: only the line to the construct at time 1 is depicted as the effect at time 2 is carried through TC1 4)
 A4: Antecedents may influence the mechanisms after the catalyst has triggered them (C1). For example, because of personality traits, someone will tend to adapt in a certain way
Paths coming from the target construct
 TC1 1 and TC2 1: The target construct explains (in part) the value of the measure
 TC1 2: The target construct at time 1 may influence the occurrence of the catalyst. For example, a high level of fatigue (the target construct) may cause a car crash (the catalyst)
 TC1 3: The target construct at time 1 may induce mechanisms. For example, a high level of fatigue (the target construct) may induce seeking support (mechanisms)
 TC1 4: The target construct at time 1 influences, in part, the target construct at time 2
Path coming from the measure
 Me1 1: The measure at time 1 may influence the measure at time 2. This path would correspond to the correlation between residual factors (i.e., all that is specific to the measures plus random error variation)
Path coming from the catalyst
 C1: The catalyst triggers mechanisms to adapt to the change in health state
 C2: The catalyst may influence the level of the construct at time 2. This is usually the main effect of interest of many studies (e.g. how a certain diagnosis affects QoL)
 C3: The catalyst may directly influence the measure’s results at time 2. If this path is not equal to zero, then observed change cannot be fully explained by target change and there will be response shift
Paths coming from the mechanisms
 M1: The mechanisms may influence the level of the target construct at time 2. For example, as a result of seeking support, an individual may experience less fatigue at time 2
 M2: The mechanisms may influence the time 2 measure’s results. If the C1 (effect of catalyst on mechanisms) path is not equal to zero, the catalyst impacts the measure at time 2, mediated by the mechanisms (C1 then M2 paths) and observed change will not be fully explained by target change, and there will be response shift