In order to appropriately model the externalizing behavior variables (which were not normally distributed), to reduce the computational burden required for model fitting and to obtain standard fit indices, the following measures were re-scored as dichotomous variables such that 0 = no behavior, 1 = at least one incidence of behavior: binge drinking, times drunk, drinking before driving, sex without protection, and indicators of property crime. The following variables remained continuous or quasi-continuous: tobacco use and personality measures. Next, indicators within a specific domain were summed to create a manifest variable used in model fitting. For example, the three dichotomized alcohol variables were summed into a single ordinal categorical variable such that 0 = no behaviors, and 3 = endorsing all three behaviors. A sum score was also generated for indicators of property crime. See Supplement for descriptive summary statistics for all variables at all waves (Table S1), and a large bivariate correlation matrix between all manifest variables in the measurement model (Supplemental Data file).
