path: Create a path position list

In diy.sem.plot: Manually Plot Path Diagrams for Structural Equation Models

Create a path position list

Description

Helper function that creates a list of arguments which specify a given path's position and fine-tuning adjustments, designed for use within the path_positions argument of diyPaths().

Usage

path(
  from,
  to,
  side_from = "right",
  side_to = "left",
  cov_curve = NULL,
  nudge_text_x = 0,
  nudge_text_y = 0,
  variance_position = "top"
)

Arguments

from	The source variable name within the lavaan model.
to	The target variable name within the lavaan model.
side_from	Side of source node where path starts ("top", "bottom", "left", "right"). Default is "right".
side_to	Side of target node where path ends ("top", "bottom", "left", "right"). Default is "left".
cov_curve	Numeric value for curvature of covariance/correlation paths. Default is NULL.
nudge_text_x	Numeric fine tuning adjustment for path estimate text along the x-axis. Default is 0.
nudge_text_y	Numeric fine tuning adjustment for path estimate text along the y-axis. Default is 0.
variance_position	Placement of variance/residual paths ("top", "bottom", "left", or "right"). Default is "top".

Details

from/to in path() must exactly match the variable name used in the lavaan model syntax. Furthermore, the order must also be correct for regression or loading paths. A misspelled or mismatched path() entry will not raise an error, instead, it will use default attachment points and values, not applying specific customisations. This can be completely avoided using template().

cov_curve controls the curvature of covariance/correlation paths: its size sets how strongly the path bends, and its sign sets which way. If a path bends the wrong way, flip the sign. Best results typically range from -1 to 1.

Value

A list containing arguments that specify a path's position and fine-tuning adjustments, for use within the path_positions argument of diyPaths().

See Also

node() to specify node positions; diyPaths() to render the diagram; template() to generate a starting path_positions list.

Examples

#a list that specifies a regression path of node "anxiety" predicting node "depression".

path(from = "anx", to = "dep", side_from = "right", side_to = "left")

#a list that specifies a covariance/correlation path of node "anxiety" and node "depression".
#Order of "from" and "to" does not matter for covariance/correlation.


path(from = "dep", to = "anx", side_from = "left", side_to = "left", cov_curve = -0.6)

diy.sem.plot documentation built on Nov. 11, 2026, 1:11 a.m.