A General Model for Testing Mediation and Moderation Effects

Fairchild, Amanda J.; MacKinnon, David P.

doi:10.1007/s11121-008-0109-6

Cited by 918Advanced Causal Inference TechniquesStatistical Methods and Bayesian InferenceEvaluation and Performance Assessment

A General Model for Testing Mediation and Moderation Effects

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Fairchild, Amanda J., MacKinnon, David P.·2009·Prevention Science

DOI 10.1007/s11121-008-0109-6PMC PMC2908713

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Abstract

This paper describes methods for testing mediation and moderation effects in a dataset, both together and separately. Investigations of this kind are especially valuable in prevention research to obtain information on the process by which a program achieves its effects and whether the program is effective for subgroups of individuals. A general model that simultaneously estimates mediation and moderation effects is presented, and the utility of combining the effects into a single model is described. Possible effects of interest in the model are explained, as are statistical methods to assess these effects. The methods are further illustrated in a hypothetical prevention program example.

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Fairchild AJ 2008 A comparison of frameworks for the joint analysis of mediation and moderation effects Unpublished doctoral dissertation Arizona State University Tempe

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Authors: Fairchild, A. J., & MacKinnon, D. P.
Affiliations: University of South Carolina (US)
Arizona State University (US)
Corresponding author: Fairchild, Amanda J.
ORCID: Fairchild, Amanda J.
MacKinnon, David P.
Venue: Prevention Science
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2008-11-12
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
Pages: 87-99
ISSN: 1389-4986 (ISSN-L)
1573-6695
DOI: 10.1007/s11121-008-0109-6
PMC: PMC2908713
OpenAlex: W2092953046
Cited by: 918
References: 48
Citations by year: 2026: 42 · 2025: 49 · 2024: 58 · 2023: 73 · 2022: 68 · 2021: 82 · 2020: 70 · 2019: 69 · 2018: 61 · 2017: 59 · 2016: 61 · 2015: 67 · 2014: 49 · 2013: 41 · 2012: 24
FWCI: 13.86
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Prevention Science (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Scholar Commons (University of South Carolina) (submittedVersion)
Funders: National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA009757)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Advanced Causal Inference Techniques
Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods and Bayesian Inference
Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Evaluation and Performance Assessment
Keywords: mediation analysis, moderation analysis, prevention programs, program effectiveness, subgroup differences
MeSH terms: Humans, Models, Theoretical, Preventive Medicine, Research

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A General Model for Testing Mediation and Moderation Effects

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