Odds Ratios for Mediation Analysis for a Dichotomous Outcome

For dichotomous outcomes, the authors discuss when the standard approaches to mediation analysis used in epidemiology and the social sciences are valid, and they provide alternative mediation analysis techniques when the standard approaches will not work. They extend definitions of controlled direct effects and natural direct and indirect effects from the risk difference scale to the odds ratio scale. A simple technique to estimate direct and indirect effect odds ratios by combining logistic and linear regressions is described that applies when the outcome is rare and the mediator continuous. Further discussion is given as to how this mediation analysis technique can be extended to settings in which data come…

• WH
  World Health Organization
• UG
  Universiteit Gent

  Award: P06/03
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: ES017876