higher order interactions

In modsem: Latent Interaction (and Moderation) Analysis in Structural Equation Models (SEM)

EVAL_DEFAULT <- FALSE
knitr::opts_chunk$set(
  collapse = TRUE,
  comment = "#>",
  eval = EVAL_DEFAULT
)

library(modsem)

As of yet, the modsem package does not support using the interaction operator : between two higher order constructs. However, you can still attempt to estimate the interaction effect between two higher order constructs by specifying the interaction term in models using the product indicator approaches (higher order constructs are not supported at all in the lms and qml approaches yet). The modsem package will then attempt to estimate the interaction effect between the two higher order constructs.

Interaction between two higher order constructs

WARNING: Please note that the literature on higher order interactions in product indicator approaches is virtually non-existant, and you will likely need to experiment with different approaches to find one that works. As well as experiment with adding constraints to the model.

In modsem there are two datasets which are variants of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) dataset. The TPB_2SO contains two second order constructs, INT (intention) which is a second order construct of ATT (attitude) and SN (subjective norm), and PBC (perceived behavioural control) which is a second order construct of PC (perceived control) and PB (perceived behaviour).

tpb <- '
  # First order constructs
  ATT =~ att1 + att2 + att3
  SN  =~ sn1 + sn2 + sn3
  PB =~ pb1 + pb2 + pb3
  PC =~ pc1 + pc2 + pc3
  BEH =~ b1 + b2

  # Higher order constructs
  INT =~ ATT + SN
  PBC =~ PC + PB

  # Higher order interaction
  INTxPBC =~ ATT:PC + ATT:PB + SN:PC + SN:PB

  # Structural model
  BEH ~ PBC + INT + INTxPBC
'

est_ca <- modsem(tpb, data = TPB_2SO, method = "ca")
summary(est_ca)

est_dblcent <- modsem(tpb, data = TPB_2SO, method = "dblcent")
summary(est_dblcent)

Interaction between a first order and a higher order construct

In the TPB_1SO dataset, the INT construct is a second order construct of ATT, SN and PBC. In this example, we will estimate the interaction between the INT (higher order construct) and PBC (first order construct).

tpb <- '
  # First order constructs
  ATT =~ att1 + att2 + att3
  SN  =~ sn1 + sn2 + sn3
  PBC =~ pbc1 + pbc2 + pbc3
  BEH =~ b1 + b2

  # Higher order constructs
  INT =~ ATT + PBC + SN

  # Higher order interaction
  INTxPBC =~ ATT:PBC + SN:PBC + PBC:PBC

  # Structural model
  BEH ~ PBC + INT + INTxPBC
'

est_ca <- modsem(tpb, data = TPB_1SO, method = "ca")
summary(est_ca)

est_dblcent  <- modsem(tpb, data = TPB_1SO, method = "dblcent")
summary(est_dblcent)

modsem documentation built on Aug. 27, 2025, 9:08 a.m.