Modeling stress: A methodological review

Covariance structure modeling (CSM) is increasingly being utilized in stres s research. For this reason, a methodological review was undertaken to asse ss how well applied researchers have recognized the shortcomings and recomm endations commonly espoused in the mathematical and statistical CSM literat ure. In reviewing a broad cross section of research (n = 50), many problems were noted. For example, data sets were rarely checked for nonnormality ev en though conventional CSM estimation procedures (e.g., maximum likelihood) are based on the assumption that the data come from a multivariate normal distribution, equivalent models were neither evaluated nor even acknowledge d, and the majority of favored models were modified based on empirical rath er than theoretical considerations. The results suggest that applied stress researchers have inadequate knowledge of the technical CSM literature, whi ch has potential ramifications for theory development.