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arXiv 2007.03973stat.ME
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基于个体内变异性得分的因果推断:时变处理联合效应的两步估计

Within-Person Variability Score-Based Causal Inference: A Two-Step Estimation for Joint Effects of Time-Varying Treatments

Satoshi Usami

AI总结:

本文提出两步因果推断法,先用SEM计算剔除稳定特质的个体内变异性得分,再用MSM或带G估计的SNMM估计时变连续处理的联合效应。

摘要:

行为科学研究者对利用纵向数据将个体内关系与个体间差异(稳定特质)分离开来表现出浓厚兴趣。本文提出一种基于个体内变异性得分的因果推断方法,通过有效控制稳定特质来估计时变连续处理的联合效应。在解释所假设的数据生成过程,并正式定义稳定特质因子、个体内变异性得分以及个体内层面时变处理的联合效应之后,我们介绍了所提出的方法,该方法由两步分析组成。首先,通过结构方程模型(SEM),使用基于最佳线性相关保持预测因子的权重,计算每个人的个体内变异性得分,这些得分与其稳定特质相分离。随后,使用计算得到的个体内变异性得分,通过潜在结果方法估计因果参数,可采用边际结构模型(MSMs)或结构嵌套均值模型(SNMMs)。与完全依赖SEM的方法不同,本方法不对个体内层面观测到时变混杂因素的线性关系作出假设。我们强调使用带G估计的SNMMs,因为它具有双重稳健性:当个体内层面观测到时变混杂因素与处理/预测因子及结果之间函数关系的模型设定错误时,仍具稳健性。通过模拟,我们表明所提出方法能够很好地恢复因果参数,而如果未恰当考虑稳定特质,因果估计可能出现严重偏差。本文还利用东京青少年队列研究中有关睡眠习惯与心理健康状况的数据提供了一项实证应用。

英文摘要:

Behavioral science researchers have shown strong interest in disaggregating within-person relations from between-person differences (stable traits) using longitudinal data. In this paper, we propose a method of within-person variability score-based causal inference for estimating joint effects of time-varying continuous treatments by effectively controlling for stable traits. After explaining the assumed data-generating process and providing formal definitions of stable trait factors, within-person variability scores, and joint effects of time-varying treatments at the within-person level, we introduce the proposed method, which consists of a two-step analysis. Within-person variability scores for each person, which are disaggregated from stable traits of that person, are first calculated using weights based on a best linear correlation preserving predictor through structural equation modeling (SEM). Causal parameters are then estimated via a potential outcome approach, either marginal structural models (MSMs) or structural nested mean models (SNMMs), using calculated within-person variability scores. Unlike the approach that relies entirely on SEM, the present method does not assume linearity for observed time-varying confounders at the within-person level. We emphasize the use of SNMMs with G-estimation because of its property of being doubly robust to model misspecifications in how observed time-varying confounders are functionally related with treatments/predictors and outcomes at the within-person level. Through simulation, we show that the proposed method can recover causal parameters well and that causal estimates might be severely biased if one does not properly account for stable traits. An empirical application using data regarding sleep habits and mental health status from the Tokyo Teen Cohort study is also provided.

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