An Index and Test of Linear Moderated Mediation

2015/01/02 by Andrew F. Hayes · 3,834 citations
Mathematics · Psychology · #Advanced Causal Inference Techniques #Computer science #Econometrics #Generalization #Index (typography) #Mathematics #Mediation #Moderation #Path analysis (statistics) #Psychology #Statistical Methods and Bayesian Inference #Statistics #Structural equation modeling #Test (biology)

paper · doi:10.1080/00273171.2014.962683

published in Multivariate Behavioral Research 50(1), 1-22 (Taylor & Francis)

openalex publication_date 2015/01/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06

Abstract

I describe a test of linear moderated mediation in path analysis based on an interval estimate of the parameter of a function linking the indirect effect to values of a moderator—a parameter that I call the index of moderated mediation. This test can be used for models that integrate moderation and mediation in which the relationship between the indirect effect and the moderator is estimated as linear, including many of the models described by Edwards and Lambert (2007 Edwards, J.R., & Lambert, L.S. (2007). Methods for integrating moderation and mediation: A general analytical framework using moderated path analysis. Psychological Methods, 12, 1–22.[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and Preacher, Rucker, and Hayes (2007 Preacher, K.J., Rucker, D.D., & Hayes, A.F. (2007). Assessing moderated mediation hypotheses: Theory, methods, and prescriptions. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 42, 185–227.[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) as well as extensions of these models to processes involving multiple mediators operating in parallel or in serial. Generalization of the method to latent variable models is straightforward. Three empirical examples describe the computation of the index and the test, and its implementation is illustrated using Mplus and the PROCESS macro for SPSS and SAS.

Citations

• Explanation of Two Anomalous Results in Statistical Mediation Analysis
• Testing Mediational Models With Longitudinal Data: Questions and Tips in the Use of Structural Equation Modeling.
• Using Heteroscedasticity Consistent Standard Errors in the Linear Regression Model
• Confidence Limits for the Indirect Effect: Distribution of the Product and Resampling Methods
• Addressing Moderated Mediation Hypotheses: Theory, Methods, and Prescriptions
• Bias in Cross-Sectional Analyses of Longitudinal Mediation: Partial and Complete Mediation Under an Autoregressive Model
• Perceiving a calling, living a calling, and job satisfaction: Testing a moderated, multiple mediator model.
• The Difference Between “Significant” and “Not Significant” is not Itself Statistically Significant
• The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations.

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