Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) has become an increasingly used methodological strategy in clinical psychology. The purpose of this paper is to outline a set of procedures for the optimizing use of SEM. The steps involved: (1) clarification of the phenomenon; (2) development of the model; (3)tesing of the model; (4) refinement of the model; and (5) assessment of the model.A research on adolescents' initiation of dieting was applied to illustrate the use of SEM.

[1] Stevens J. Applied Multivariate Statistics for the Social Sciences(2nd ed.).Hillsdale, NJ:Lawrence Erlbaum Associates,Inc.1992
[2] Baldwin B. A primer in the use and interpretation of strutural equation models. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development,1989,22:100-112
[3] Crowley SL.Fanx structural equation modeling:basic concepts and applications in personality assessment research. Journal of Personality Assessment,1997,68(3):508-531
[4] Huon GF, Strong KG. The initiation and the maintenance of dieting:Structural models for large scale longitudinal investigations.International Journal of Eating Disorders,1998,23:361-370
[5] Loehlin JC.Latent Variable Models:An Introduction to Factor, Path ,and Structural Analysis(2nd.ed).Hillsdale,NJ:Lawrence Erlbaum,1992
[6] Baron RM, Kenny DA.The moderator distinction in social psychological research:Conceptual, strategic,and statistical consideration.Journal of Personality and Psychology,1986,51:1171-1182
[7] Huon G,Hayne A, et al. Accounting for differences in dieting status:steps in the refinement of a model.International Journal of Eating Disorders,1999,26(4),420-433