title: A general model for testing mediation and moderation effects.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Barnwell College, 1512 Pendleton St., Columbia, SC 29208, USA. afairchi@mailbox.sc.edu
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fairchild
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: MacKinnon
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D012106:Research