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Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine
2013 Edition
| Editors: Marc D. Gellman, J. Rick Turner
Mediators
Chris Zehr (1) Email author (czehr@[Link])
1. Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, University of Waterloo, , Waterloo,
Canada
Reference work entry
DOI: [Link]
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Synonyms
Intermediate variable ([Link]
Definition
A mediator is a variable that serves to explain the nature of the relationship between
an independent variable and a dependent variable or between a predictor and criterion
variable (Baron and Kenny, 1986; MacKinnon, Krull, & Lockwood, 2000). It provides
an indirect means by which the independent variable may affect the dependent
variable. Specifically, a mediator influences the dependent variable while being
influenced by the independent variable itself (MacKinnon et al., 2000). In
experimental research, researchers manipulate a mediator to more clearly understand
the means through which a causal effect is operating.
A simple meditational model is depicted in Fig. 1 as shown in Baron and Kenny (1986).
As illustrated, path (C) represents a direct effect of the independent variable on the
dependent variable when no mediator is accounted for. In contrast, the causal path
linking the independent variable to the mediator (A) and the mediator to the
dependent variable (B) represents an indirect effect of the independent variable on the
dependent variable via the mediator (Kraemer, Stice, Kazdin, Offord, & Kupfer, 2001).
In this case, the independent variable influences the dependent variable through the
mediator. If controlling for the mediator reduces the direct effect that the independent
variable has on the dependent variable to zero, it can be said that complete mediation
is present. However, if after controlling for the mediator, the effect of the independent
variable on the dependent variable is significantly reduced but remains statistically
different from zero, it can be said that partial mediation has occurred (Judd & Kenny,
1981). In behavioral medicine, as in any science, researchers use mediation analyses to
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test causal pathways. For example, one could examine whether levels of various
biomarkers such as C-reactive protein mediate the relation between hostility and acute
coronary syndrome, by measuring hostility, the biomarkers and the disease end-point,
and implementing the Baron and Kenny test.
Mediators, Fig. 1
A meditational model as depicted in Baron and Kenny (1986)
Cross-References
Causal Diagrams ([Link]
Intermediate Variable ([Link]
References and Readings
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in
social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations.
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Judd, C. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1981). Process analysis: Estimating mediation in
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Kraemer, H. C., Stice, E., Kazdin, A., Offord, D., & Kupfer, D. (2001). How do risk
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© Springer Science+Business Media, New York 2013
How to cite
Cite this entry as:
Zehr C. (2013) Mediators. In: Gellman M.D., Turner J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine.
Springer, New York, NY
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Online ISBN 978-1-4419-1005-9
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