A General Multilevel SEM Framework for Assessing Multilevel Mediation

A General Multilevel SEM Framework for Assessing Multilevel Mediation

2010, Vol. 15, No. 3, 209–233 | Kristopher J. Preacher, Michael J. Zyphur, Zhen Zhang
The article presents a general multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) framework to address the limitations of traditional multilevel modeling (MLM) in assessing multilevel mediation. MLM approaches often conflate between- and within-level components of indirect effects, leading to biased estimates, especially when Level-2 outcomes are involved. The MSEM framework, based on Muthén and Asparouhov's (2008) general MSEM mathematical framework, allows for the separation of between- and within-level effects, providing a more accurate understanding of indirect effects in hierarchical data. The authors demonstrate how various existing and new multilevel mediation models can be subsumed within the MSEM framework and provide empirical examples to illustrate the flexibility and advantages of MSEM over MLM. The primary contributions of the article are to show how MSEM can separate variables and effects into within- and between-group components and accommodate mediation models with Level-2 outcomes. The authors advocate the use of MSEM as a comprehensive system for examining mediation effects in multilevel data.The article presents a general multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) framework to address the limitations of traditional multilevel modeling (MLM) in assessing multilevel mediation. MLM approaches often conflate between- and within-level components of indirect effects, leading to biased estimates, especially when Level-2 outcomes are involved. The MSEM framework, based on Muthén and Asparouhov's (2008) general MSEM mathematical framework, allows for the separation of between- and within-level effects, providing a more accurate understanding of indirect effects in hierarchical data. The authors demonstrate how various existing and new multilevel mediation models can be subsumed within the MSEM framework and provide empirical examples to illustrate the flexibility and advantages of MSEM over MLM. The primary contributions of the article are to show how MSEM can separate variables and effects into within- and between-group components and accommodate mediation models with Level-2 outcomes. The authors advocate the use of MSEM as a comprehensive system for examining mediation effects in multilevel data.
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