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).

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