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Relationship between mediation analysis and the structured life course approach

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Rachel CooperORCiD

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Abstract

© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association. Many questions in life course epidemiology involve mediation and/or interaction because of the long latency period between exposures and outcomes. In this paper, we explore how mediation analysis (based on counterfactual theory and implemented using conventional regression approaches) links with a structured approach to selecting life course hypotheses. Using theory and simulated data, we show how the alternative life course hypotheses assessed in the structured life course approach correspond to different combinations of mediation and interaction parameters. For example, an early life critical period model corresponds to a direct effect of the early life exposure, but no indirect effect via the mediator and no interaction between the early life exposure and the mediator. We also compare these methods using an illustrative real-data example using data on parental occupational social class (early life exposure), own adult occupational social class (mediator) and physical capability (outcome).

Publication metadata

Author(s): Howe LD, Smith AD, Macdonald-Wallis C, Anderson EL, Galobardes B, Lawlor DA, Ben-Shlomo Y, Hardy R, Cooper R, Tilling K, Fraser A

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Epidemiology

Year: 2016

Volume: 45

Issue: 4

Pages: 1280-1294

Online publication date: 06/10/2016

Acceptance date: 10/08/2016

Date deposited: 27/01/2022

ISSN (print): 0300-5771

ISSN (electronic): 1464-3685

Publisher: Oxford University Press

URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyw254

DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyw254

PubMed id: 27681097

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