Concepts (I)
Mediation Analysis
The section provides an overview of the concept and methods of mediation analysis in the context of epidemiology and statistical modeling. The section discusses total effects, indirect and direct paths, and highlights the limitations of the Baron and Kenny approach (Baron and Kenny 1986). It introduces the counterfactual definition, emphasizing the importance of adjusting for confounders and providing insights into the mechanics of mediation analysis through imputation and weighting methods. The section also covers sensitivity analysis, proportion mediated, and methodological extensions, including multi-category mediators and software references for conducting mediation analysis.
Reading list
Key reference: (Rochon, Bois, and Lange 2014; Lange et al. 2017)