# Example lavaan models

#### Rémi Thériault

#### August 24, 2022

This article attempts to reproduce several different possible `lavaan` models. We start with the source itself: The lavaan project at https://lavaan.ugent.be. Let’s start by loading both packages.

    library(lavaan)
    library(lavaanExtra)

## Example 1 (Model syntax 1):

Source: https://lavaan.ugent.be/tutorial/syntax1.html

`lavaan`:

    myModel <- " # regressions
                 y1 + y2 ~ f1 + f2 + x1 + x2
                      f1 ~ f2 + f3
                      f2 ~ f3 + x1 + x2

                 # latent variable definitions
                   f1 =~ y1 + y2 + y3
                   f2 =~ y4 + y5 + y6
                   f3 =~ y7 + y8 + y9 + y10

                 # variances and covariances
                   y1 ~~ y1
                   y1 ~~ y2
                   f1 ~~ f2

                 # intercepts
                   y1 ~ 1
                   f1 ~ 1
               "

`lavaanExtra`:

    reg <- list(
      y1 = c("f1", "f2", "x1", "x2"),
      y2 = c("f1", "f2", "x1", "x2"),
      f1 = c("f2", "f3"),
      f2 = c("f3", "x1", "x2")
    )
    lat <- list(
      f1 = paste0("y", 1:3),
      f2 = paste0("y", 4:6),
      f3 = paste0("y", 7:10)
    )
    cov <- list(
      y1 = "y1",
      y1 = "y2",
      f1 = "f2"
    )
    int <- c("y1", "f1")
    myModel <- write_lavaan(
      regression = reg,
      latent = lat,
      covariance = cov,
      intercept = int
    )
    cat(myModel)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [-----Latent variables (measurement model)-----]
    ##
    ## f1 =~ y1 + y2 + y3
    ## f2 =~ y4 + y5 + y6
    ## f3 =~ y7 + y8 + y9 + y10
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [---------Regressions (Direct effects)---------]
    ##
    ## y1 ~ f1 + f2 + x1 + x2
    ## y2 ~ f1 + f2 + x1 + x2
    ## f1 ~ f2 + f3
    ## f2 ~ f3 + x1 + x2
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [------------------Covariances-----------------]
    ##
    ## y1 ~~ y1
    ## y1 ~~ y2
    ## f1 ~~ f2
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [------------------Intercepts------------------]
    ##
    ## y1 ~ 1
    ## f1 ~ 1

## Example 2 (A CFA example):

Source: https://lavaan.ugent.be/tutorial/cfa.html

`lavaan`:

    HS.model <- " visual  =~ x1 + x2 + x3
                  textual =~ x4 + x5 + x6
                  speed   =~ x7 + x8 + x9 "

`lavaanExtra`:

    lat <- list(
      visual = paste0("x", 1:3),
      textual = paste0("x", 4:6),
      speed = paste0("x", 7:9)
    )
    myModel <- write_lavaan(latent = lat)
    cat(myModel)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [-----Latent variables (measurement model)-----]
    ##
    ## visual =~ x1 + x2 + x3
    ## textual =~ x4 + x5 + x6
    ## speed =~ x7 + x8 + x9

## Example 3 (A SEM example):

Source: https://lavaan.ugent.be/tutorial/sem.html

`lavaan`:

    model <- "
      # measurement model
        ind60 =~ x1 + x2 + x3
        dem60 =~ y1 + y2 + y3 + y4
        dem65 =~ y5 + y6 + y7 + y8
      # regressions
        dem60 ~ ind60
        dem65 ~ ind60 + dem60
      # residual correlations
        y1 ~~ y5
        y2 ~~ y4 + y6
        y3 ~~ y7
        y4 ~~ y8
        y6 ~~ y8
    "

`lavaanExtra`:

    lat <- list(
      ind60 = paste0("x", 1:3),
      dem60 = paste0("y", 1:4),
      dem65 = paste0("y", 5:8)
    )
    reg <- list(
      dem60 = "ind60",
      dem65 = c("ind60", "dem60")
    )
    cov <- list(
      y1 = "y5",
      y2 = c("y4", "y6"),
      y3 = "y7",
      y4 = "y8",
      y6 = "y8"
    )
    model <- write_lavaan(
      latent = lat,
      regression = reg,
      covariance = cov
    )
    cat(model)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [-----Latent variables (measurement model)-----]
    ##
    ## ind60 =~ x1 + x2 + x3
    ## dem60 =~ y1 + y2 + y3 + y4
    ## dem65 =~ y5 + y6 + y7 + y8
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [---------Regressions (Direct effects)---------]
    ##
    ## dem60 ~ ind60
    ## dem65 ~ ind60 + dem60
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [------------------Covariances-----------------]
    ##
    ## y1 ~~ y5
    ## y2 ~~ y4 + y6
    ## y3 ~~ y7
    ## y4 ~~ y8
    ## y6 ~~ y8

## Example 4 (Model syntax 2):

Source: https://lavaan.ugent.be/tutorial/syntax2.html

#### Example 4.1

`lavaan`:

    model <- "
    # three-factor model
      visual =~ x1 + x2 + x3
      textual =~ x4 + x5 + x6
      speed   =~ NA*x7 + x8 + x9
    # orthogonal factors
      visual ~~ 0*speed
      textual ~~ 0*speed
    # fix variance of speed factor
      speed ~~ 1*speed
    "

`lavaanExtra`:

    lat <- list(
      visual = paste0("x", 1:3),
      textual = paste0("x", 4:6),
      speed = c("NA*x7", "x8", "x9")
    )
    cov <- list(
      visual = "0*speed",
      textual = "0*speed",
      speed = "1*speed"
    )
    model <- write_lavaan(latent = lat, covariance = cov)
    cat(model)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [-----Latent variables (measurement model)-----]
    ##
    ## visual =~ x1 + x2 + x3
    ## textual =~ x4 + x5 + x6
    ## speed =~ NA*x7 + x8 + x9
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [------------------Covariances-----------------]
    ##
    ## visual ~~ 0*speed
    ## textual ~~ 0*speed
    ## speed ~~ 1*speed

#### Example 4.2

`lavaan`:

    model <- "
    visual  =~ x1 + start(0.8)*x2 + start(1.2)*x3
    textual =~ x4 + start(0.5)*x5 + start(1.0)*x6
    speed   =~ x7 + start(0.7)*x8 + start(1.8)*x9
    "

`lavaanExtra`:

    lat <- list(
      visual = c("x1", "start(0.8)*x2", "start(1.2)*x3"),
      textual = c("x4", "start(0.5)*x5", "start(1.0)*x6"),
      speed = c("x7", "start(0.7)*x8", "start(1.8)*x9")
    )
    model <- write_lavaan(latent = lat)
    cat(model)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [-----Latent variables (measurement model)-----]
    ##
    ## visual =~ x1 + start(0.8)*x2 + start(1.2)*x3
    ## textual =~ x4 + start(0.5)*x5 + start(1.0)*x6
    ## speed =~ x7 + start(0.7)*x8 + start(1.8)*x9

#### Example 4.3

`lavaan`:

    model <- "
    f =~ y1 + y2 + myLabel*y3 + start(0.5)*y3 + y4
    "

`lavaanExtra`:

    lat <- list(f = c("y1", "y2", "myLabel*y3", "start(0.5)*y3", "y4"))
    model <- write_lavaan(latent = lat)
    cat(model)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [-----Latent variables (measurement model)-----]
    ##
    ## f =~ y1 + y2 + myLabel*y3 + start(0.5)*y3 + y4

#### Example 4.4

`lavaan`:

    model <- "
    visual  =~ x1 + v2*x2 + v2*x3
    textual =~ x4 + x5 + x6
    speed   =~ x7 + x8 + x9
    "

`lavaanExtra`:

    lat <- list(
      visual = c("x1", "v2*x2", "v2*x3"),
      textual = paste0("x", 4:6),
      speed = paste0("x", 7:9)
    )
    model <- write_lavaan(latent = lat)
    cat(model)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [-----Latent variables (measurement model)-----]
    ##
    ## visual =~ x1 + v2*x2 + v2*x3
    ## textual =~ x4 + x5 + x6
    ## speed =~ x7 + x8 + x9

#### Example 4.5

`lavaan`:

    model <- '
    visual  =~ x1 + x2 + equal("visual=~x2")*x3
    textual =~ x4 + x5 + x6
    speed   =~ x7 + x8 + x9
    '
    sem(model, data = HolzingerSwineford1939)

    ## lavaan 0.6-19 ended normally after 36 iterations
    ##
    ##   Estimator                                         ML
    ##   Optimization method                           NLMINB
    ##   Number of model parameters                        21
    ##   Number of equality constraints                     1
    ##
    ##   Number of observations                           301
    ##
    ## Model Test User Model:
    ##
    ##   Test statistic                                87.971
    ##   Degrees of freedom                                25
    ##   P-value (Chi-square)                           0.000

`lavaanExtra`:

    lat <- list(
      visual = c("x1", "x2", "equal('visual=~x2')*x3"),
      textual = paste0("x", 4:6),
      speed = paste0("x", 7:9)
    )
    model <- write_lavaan(latent = lat)
    cat(model)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [-----Latent variables (measurement model)-----]
    ##
    ## visual =~ x1 + x2 + equal('visual=~x2')*x3
    ## textual =~ x4 + x5 + x6
    ## speed =~ x7 + x8 + x9

    sem(model, data = HolzingerSwineford1939)

    ## lavaan 0.6-19 ended normally after 36 iterations
    ##
    ##   Estimator                                         ML
    ##   Optimization method                           NLMINB
    ##   Number of model parameters                        21
    ##   Number of equality constraints                     1
    ##
    ##   Number of observations                           301
    ##
    ## Model Test User Model:
    ##
    ##   Test statistic                                87.971
    ##   Degrees of freedom                                25
    ##   P-value (Chi-square)                           0.000

#### Example 4.6

`lavaan`:

    model.constr <- " # model with labeled parameters
                        y ~ b1*x1 + b2*x2 + b3*x3
                      # constraints
                        b1 == (b2 + b3)^2
                        b1 > exp(b2 + b3) "

`lavaanExtra`:

    reg <- list(y = c("b1*x1", "b2*x2", "b3*x3"))
    cstr1 <- list(b1 = "(b2 + b3)^2")
    cstr2 <- list(b1 = "exp(b2 + b3)")
    model <- write_lavaan(
      regression = reg, constraint.equal = cstr1,
      constraint.larger = cstr2
    )
    cat(model)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [---------Regressions (Direct effects)---------]
    ##
    ## y ~ b1*x1 + b2*x2 + b3*x3
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [-----------------Constraints------------------]
    ##
    ## b1 == (b2 + b3)^2
    ## b1 > exp(b2 + b3)

## Example 5 (Mediation)

Source: https://lavaan.ugent.be/tutorial/mediation.html

`lavaan`:

    model <- " # direct effect
                 Y ~ c*X
               # mediator
                 M ~ a*X
                 Y ~ b*M
               # indirect effect (a*b)
                 ab := a*b
               # total effect
                 total := c + (a*b)
             "

`lavaanExtra`:

    mediation <- list(
      Y = "c*X",
      M = "a*X",
      Y = "b*M"
    )
    indirect <- list(
      ab = "a*b",
      total = "c + (a*b)"
    )
    model <- write_lavaan(mediation = mediation, indirect = indirect)
    cat(model)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [-----------Mediations (named paths)-----------]
    ##
    ## Y ~ c*X
    ## M ~ a*X
    ## Y ~ b*M
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [--------Mediations (indirect effects)---------]
    ##
    ## ab := a*b
    ## total := c + (a*b)

## Example 6 (Multilevel SEM)

Source: https://lavaan.ugent.be/tutorial/multilevel.html

`lavaan`:

    model <- "
        level: 1
            fw =~ y1 + y2 + y3
            fw ~ x1 + x2 + x3
        level: 2
            fb =~ y1 + y2 + y3
            fb ~ w1 + w2
    "

`lavaanExtra`:

    cus <-
      "level: 1
        fw =~ y1 + y2 + y3
        fw ~ x1 + x2 + x3
    level: 2
        fb =~ y1 + y2 + y3
        fb ~ w1 + w2
    "
    model <- write_lavaan(custom = cus)
    cat(model)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [------------Custom Specifications-------------]
    ##
    ## level: 1
    ##     fw =~ y1 + y2 + y3
    ##     fw ~ x1 + x2 + x3
    ## level: 2
    ##     fb =~ y1 + y2 + y3
    ##     fb ~ w1 + w2

## Example 7 (total effects)

Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20250114164544/https://methodenlehre.github.io/SGSCLM-R-course/cfa-and-sem-with-lavaan.html#structural-equation-modelling-sem

`lavaan`:

    model_mediation <- "
    # Measurement model
    SUP_Parents =~ sup_parents_p1 + sup_parents_p2 + sup_parents_p3
    SUP_Friends =~ sup_friends_p1 + sup_friends_p2 + sup_friends_p3
    SE_Academic =~ se_acad_p1 + se_acad_p2 + se_acad_p3
    SE_Social =~ se_social_p1 + se_social_p2 + se_social_p3
    LS  =~ ls_p1 + ls_p2 + ls_p3

    # Structural model
    # Regressions
    SE_Academic ~ b1*SUP_Parents + b3*SUP_Friends
    SE_Social ~ b2*SUP_Parents + b4*SUP_Friends
    LS ~ b5*SUP_Parents + b6*SUP_Friends + b7*SE_Academic + b8*SE_Social

    # Residual covariances
    SE_Academic ~~ SE_Social

    # Indirect effects
    b1b7 := b1*b7
    b2b8 := b2*b8
    totalind_eltern := b1*b7 + b2*b8
    b3b7 := b3*b7
    b4b8 := b4*b8
    totalind_freunde := b3*b7 + b4*b8

    # Total effects
    total_eltern := b1*b7 + b2*b8 + b5
    total_freunde := b3*b7 + b4*b8 + b6
    "

`lavaanExtra`:

    x <- c("sup_parents", "sup_friends", "se_acad", "se_social", "ls")
    y <- lapply(x, paste0, "_p", 1:3)
    y <- setNames(y, x)
    lat <- list(
      SUP_Parents = y$sup_parents,
      SUP_Friends = y$sup_friends,
      SE_Academic = y$se_acad,
      SE_Social = y$se_social,
      LS = y$ls
    )

    b <- paste0("b", 1:8)
    d <- c(
      rep(c("SUP_Parents", "SUP_Friends"), each = 2),
      "SUP_Parents", "SUP_Friends", "SE_Academic", "SE_Social"
    )
    e <- paste0(b, "*", d)

    reg <- list(
      SE_Academic = e[c(1, 3)],
      SE_Social = e[c(2, 4)],
      LS = e[c(5:8)]
    )

    cov <- list(SE_Academic = "SE_Social")

    ind <- list(
      b1b7 = "b1*b7",
      b2b8 = "b2*b8",
      totalind_eltern = "b1*b7 + b2*b8",
      b3b7 = "b3*b7",
      b4b8 = "b4*b8",
      totalind_freunde = "b3*b7 + b4*b8",
      total_eltern = "b1*b7 + b2*b8 + b5",
      total_freunde = "b3*b7 + b4*b8 + b6"
    )

    model <- write_lavaan(
      regression = reg, covariance = cov,
      indirect = ind, latent = lat
    )
    cat(model)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [-----Latent variables (measurement model)-----]
    ##
    ## SUP_Parents =~ sup_parents_p1 + sup_parents_p2 + sup_parents_p3
    ## SUP_Friends =~ sup_friends_p1 + sup_friends_p2 + sup_friends_p3
    ## SE_Academic =~ se_acad_p1 + se_acad_p2 + se_acad_p3
    ## SE_Social =~ se_social_p1 + se_social_p2 + se_social_p3
    ## LS =~ ls_p1 + ls_p2 + ls_p3
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [---------Regressions (Direct effects)---------]
    ##
    ## SE_Academic ~ b1*SUP_Parents + b3*SUP_Friends
    ## SE_Social ~ b2*SUP_Parents + b4*SUP_Friends
    ## LS ~ b5*SUP_Parents + b6*SUP_Friends + b7*SE_Academic + b8*SE_Social
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [------------------Covariances-----------------]
    ##
    ## SE_Academic ~~ SE_Social
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [--------Mediations (indirect effects)---------]
    ##
    ## b1b7 := b1*b7
    ## b2b8 := b2*b8
    ## totalind_eltern := b1*b7 + b2*b8
    ## b3b7 := b3*b7
    ## b4b8 := b4*b8
    ## totalind_freunde := b3*b7 + b4*b8
    ## total_eltern := b1*b7 + b2*b8 + b5
    ## total_freunde := b3*b7 + b4*b8 + b6

## Example 8 (intercepts)

Source: https://lavaan.ugent.be/tutorial/means.html

`lavaan`:

    HS.model <- "
    # three-factor model
      visual  =~ x1 + x2 + x3
      textual =~ x4 + x5 + x6
      speed   =~ x7 + x8 + x9
    # intercepts with fixed values
      x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 ~ 0.5*1
    "

`lavaanExtra`:

    lat <- list(
      visual = paste0("x", 1:3),
      textual = paste0("x", 4:6),
      speed = paste0("x", 7:9)
    )

    cus <- "x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 ~ 0.5*1"

    HS.model <- write_lavaan(
      latent = lat, custom = cus
    )
    cat(HS.model)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [-----Latent variables (measurement model)-----]
    ##
    ## visual =~ x1 + x2 + x3
    ## textual =~ x4 + x5 + x6
    ## speed =~ x7 + x8 + x9
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [------------Custom Specifications-------------]
    ##
    ## x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 ~ 0.5*1

## Example 9 (thresholds)

Source: https://tdjorgensen.github.io/TDJorgensen/CatMeasEq/Jorgensen.CatMeasEq.pdf

`lavaan`:

    mod2 <- "
    ## LIR means
      y2w1 ~ mean1*1
      y2w2 ~ mean2*1
    ## LIR (co)variances
      y2w1 ~~ var1*y2w1 + y2w2
      y2w2 ~~ var2*y2w2
    ## thresholds link LIRs to observed items
      y2w1 | thr1*t1
      y2w2 | thr2*t1
    "

`lavaanExtra`:

    reg <- list(
      y2w1 = "mean1*1",
      y2w2 = "mean2*1"
    )

    cov <- list(
      y2w1 = c("var1*y2w1", "y2w2"),
      y2w2 = "var2*y2w2"
    )

    thres <- list(
      y2w1 = "thr1*t1",
      y2w2 = "thr2*t1"
    )

    HS.model <- write_lavaan(
      regression = reg,
      covariance = cov,
      threshold = thres
    )
    cat(HS.model)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [---------Regressions (Direct effects)---------]
    ##
    ## y2w1 ~ mean1*1
    ## y2w2 ~ mean2*1
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [------------------Covariances-----------------]
    ##
    ## y2w1 ~~ var1*y2w1 + y2w2
    ## y2w2 ~~ var2*y2w2
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [------------------Thresholds------------------]
    ##
    ## y2w1 | thr1*t1
    ## y2w2 | thr2*t1

## Example 10 (longitudinal invariance)

Source: https://thechangelab.stanford.edu/tutorials/growth-modeling/modeling-change-latent-vars-ordinal-indicators-lavaan/

`lavaan`:

    configural_invar <- " #opening quote
    #factor loadings
      eta1 =~ 1*t1_sc + #for identification
              t1_intp +
              t1_ext
      eta2 =~ 1*t2_sc + #for identification
              t2_intp +
              t2_ext
      eta3 =~ 1*t4_sc + #for identification
              t4_intp +
              t4_ext

    #latent variable variances
       eta1~~eta1
       eta2~~eta2
       eta3~~eta3

    #latent variable covariances
       eta1~~eta2
       eta1~~eta3
       eta2~~eta3

    #latent variable means
       eta1~0*1 #for scaling
       eta2~0*1 #for scaling
       eta3~0*1 #for scaling

    #propensity variances
       t1_sc  ~~ 1*t1_sc
       t1_intp~~ 1*t1_intp
       t1_ext ~~ 1*t1_ext
       t2_sc  ~~ 1*t2_sc
       t2_intp~~ 1*t2_intp
       t2_ext ~~ 1*t2_ext
       t4_sc  ~~ 1*t4_sc
       t4_intp~~ 1*t4_intp
       t4_ext ~~ 1*t4_ext

    #unique covariances

    #observed variable intercepts/thresholds (4 categories = 3 thresholds)
       t1_sc   |t1 + t2 + t3
       t1_intp |t1 + t2 + t3
       t1_ext  |t1 + t2 + t3
       t2_sc   |t1 + t2 + t3
       t2_intp |t1 + t2 + t3
       t2_ext  |t1 + t2 + t3
       t4_sc   |t1 + t2 + t3
       t4_intp |t1 + t2 + t3
       t4_ext  |t1 + t2 + t3
    " # closing quote

`lavaanExtra`:

    eta <- paste0("eta", 1:3)
    t <- paste0("t", 1:4)
    term <- c("sc", "intp", "ext")
    tnames <- paste0(rep(t[c(1:2, 4)], each = 3), "_", term)
    tnames2 <- paste0("1*", tnames)

    lat <- list(
      eta1 = c(tnames2[1], tnames[2:3]),
      eta2 = c(tnames2[4], tnames[5:6]),
      eta3 = c(tnames2[7], tnames[8:9])
    )

    cov <- as.list(c(eta, eta[2:3], eta[3], tnames2))
    names(cov) <- c(eta, eta[1], eta[1:2], tnames)

    thres <- rep(list(t[1:3]), 9)
    names(thres) <- tnames

    reg <- as.list(setNames(rep("0*1", 3), eta))

    HS.model <- write_lavaan(
      regression = reg,
      latent = lat,
      covariance = cov,
      threshold = thres
    )
    cat(HS.model)

    ## ##################################################
    ## # [-----Latent variables (measurement model)-----]
    ##
    ## eta1 =~ 1*t1_sc + t1_intp + t1_ext
    ## eta2 =~ 1*t2_sc + t2_intp + t2_ext
    ## eta3 =~ 1*t4_sc + t4_intp + t4_ext
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [---------Regressions (Direct effects)---------]
    ##
    ## eta1 ~ 0*1
    ## eta2 ~ 0*1
    ## eta3 ~ 0*1
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [------------------Covariances-----------------]
    ##
    ## eta1 ~~ eta1
    ## eta2 ~~ eta2
    ## eta3 ~~ eta3
    ## eta1 ~~ eta2
    ## eta1 ~~ eta3
    ## eta2 ~~ eta3
    ## t1_sc ~~ 1*t1_sc
    ## t1_intp ~~ 1*t1_intp
    ## t1_ext ~~ 1*t1_ext
    ## t2_sc ~~ 1*t2_sc
    ## t2_intp ~~ 1*t2_intp
    ## t2_ext ~~ 1*t2_ext
    ## t4_sc ~~ 1*t4_sc
    ## t4_intp ~~ 1*t4_intp
    ## t4_ext ~~ 1*t4_ext
    ##
    ## ##################################################
    ## # [------------------Thresholds------------------]
    ##
    ## t1_sc | t1 + t2 + t3
    ## t1_intp | t1 + t2 + t3
    ## t1_ext | t1 + t2 + t3
    ## t2_sc | t1 + t2 + t3
    ## t2_intp | t1 + t2 + t3
    ## t2_ext | t1 + t2 + t3
    ## t4_sc | t1 + t2 + t3
    ## t4_intp | t1 + t2 + t3
    ## t4_ext | t1 + t2 + t3