Assessing associations in multi-member multi-group data: An actor-partner interdependence

Data from groups often have a multimember multigroup (MMMG) structure. Examples are two-parent families with a female or male child (three members, two groups), two same-gender and opposite-gender peers of different status (two members, four groups), or gay, lesbian, and heterosexual couples (two members, three groups). To analyze such data, a framework called MMMG actor – partner interdependence model (MMMG APIM) is presented considering group composition. Three models are discussed in detail: the three-member two-group APIM, the two-member four-group APIM, and the two-member three-group APIM. Structural equation modeling and cross-sectional and longitudinal data are used to illustrate the approach. To ease the interpretation of APIM findings, a proposal of a general classification scheme is made.