Growth mixture models (GMMs; B. O. Muthen & Muthen, 2000; B. O. Muthen & Shedden, 1999) are a combination of latent curve models (LCMs) and finite mixture models to examine the existence of latent classes that follow distinct developmental patterns. GMMs are often fit with linear, latent basis, multiphase, or polynomial change models…

Using an approach to the analysis of missing data, this study investigated developmental trends in alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use among 750 adolescents across 5 years using multiple-group latent growth modeling. Latent variable structural equation modeling and missing data approaches to studying developmental change are explored. (SLD)

Longitudinal data from a school-based alcohol-prevention trial involving 385 girls and 353 boys were used to show how a model using individual growth modeling and a covariance structure approach can investigate relationships among individual changes in two domains (positive and negative alcohol expectancies). Advantages of the approach are…