Mediation analysis with multiple versions of the mediator.

ABSTRACT: The causal inference literature has provided definitions of direct and indirect effects based on counterfactuals that generalize the approach found in the social science literature. However, these definitions presuppose well-defined hypothetical interventions on the mediator. In many settings, there may be multiple ways to fix the mediator to a particular value, and these various hypothetical interventions may have very different implications for the outcome of interest. In this paper, we consider mediation analysis when multiple versions of the mediator are present. Specifically, we consider the problem of attempting to decompose a total effect of an exposure on an outcome into the portion through the intermediate and the portion through other pathways. We consider the setting in which th

SUBMITTER: Vanderweele TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3771529 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature