A researcher finds a strong link between emotional regulation capacity and well-being. They wonder if age explains this link and indeed find that older people report more emotional regulation capacity and better well-being. When accounting for age, the link between emotional regulation capacity and well-being disappears.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Full mediation means that the apparent effect of X on Y operates entirely through a third variable M; once M is accounted for, the direct association between X and Y vanishes.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Predictor (X): emotional regulation capacity. Outcome (Y): well-being. Potential mediator (M): age.  
- Mediation criteria (Baron & Kenny, conceptually): (a) X → Y is significant; (b) X → M is significant; (c) M → Y (controlling for X) is significant; (d) After controlling for M, the X → Y relationship is reduced (partial mediation) or drops to non-significance (full mediation).  
- Covariate means a control variable included to reduce confounding but not interpreted as the causal pathway.

2) Step-by-step reasoning applied to the scenario
- Step A: Researcher observes a strong link: emotional regulation (X) is positively associated with well-being (Y). Criterion (a) satisfied.  
- Step B: The researcher notes older people report more emotional regulation and better well-being — age is associated with both X and Y. Thus X → M and M → Y relationships are present conceptually; criteria (b) and (c) satisfied.  
- Step C: After statistically accounting for age (including age as M), the previously observed X → Y relationship disappears (becomes nonsignificant). That matches criterion (d) with the effect going to zero.

3) Intermediate “calculation” steps (conceptual)
- Initial model: Y = b1*X + e  (b1 significant).  
- Add age: Y = b1'*X + b2*Age + e  (b1' ≈ 0, nonsignificant; b2 significant).  
- This pattern indicates Age carries the association from X to Y.

4) Why the correct answer is correct
Because the association between emotional regulation and well-being vanishes when age is included, age accounts for the whole relationship — the defining pattern of full mediation.

5) Why other options are incorrect
- No mediation: would mean controlling for age does not change the X–Y link; here it disappeared, so incorrect.  
- Covariate: treating age merely as a covariate does not imply it explains the pathway; the scenario indicates age explains the link (mediator), not just a nuisance control.  
- Partial mediation: would apply if the X–Y link were reduced but still significant after controlling for age; here it disappears entirely, so partial mediation is wrong.

6) Conclusion
The described pattern fits full mediation; therefore the correct answer is full mediation (matches the provided answer).

类似问题

You own a bond that pays $64 in interest annually. The face value is $1,000 and the current market price is $1,021.61. The bond matures in 11 years. What is the yield to maturity?

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

It will cost $9,600 to acquire an ice cream cart that is expected to produce cash inflows of $3,600 a year for three years. After the three years, the cart is expected to be worthless. What is the payback period?

更多留学生实用工具

智能学习助手

风格化写作助手

论文查重助手

文献引用助手

课堂转译助手

课堂笔记助手

Quiz搜索助手

学校历年真题

智能刷题助手

智能匹配练习

希望你的学习变得更简单