What term describes the effect of a predictor on an outcome that operates through a mediator?

What term describes the effect of a predictor on an outcome that operates through a mediator?

• A. Direct effect
• B. Moderator effect
• C. Mediating effect
• D. Indirect effect

Answer: (D)

In mediation analysis, we separate how a predictor affects an outcome into direct and indirect paths. The effect that travels through a mediator is called the indirect effect. It represents how much of the predictor’s influence on the outcome is transmitted via the mediator, rather than happening directly. If the predictor X influences the mediator M (coefficient a) and M influences the outcome Y (coefficient b), the indirect effect is the product a*b. The remaining portion, the direct effect, is the influence of X on Y when M is accounted for. So the term that names this mediated pathway is the indirect effect.

In mediation analysis, we separate how a predictor affects an outcome into direct and indirect paths. The effect that travels through a mediator is called the indirect effect. It represents how much of the predictor’s influence on the outcome is transmitted via the mediator, rather than happening directly. If the predictor X influences the mediator M (coefficient a) and M influences the outcome Y (coefficient b), the indirect effect is the product a*b. The remaining portion, the direct effect, is the influence of X on Y when M is accounted for. So the term that names this mediated pathway is the indirect effect.