Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Third-variable effect analysis with multilevel additive models.


ABSTRACT: Third-variable effect refers to the effect transmitted by third-variables that intervene in the relationship between an exposure and a response variable. Third-variable effect analysis has been broadly studied in many fields. However, it remains a challenge for researchers to differentiate indirect effect of individual factor from multiple third-variables, especially when the involving variables are of hierarchical structure. Yu et al. (2014) defined third-variable effects that were consistent for all different types of response (categorical or continuous), exposure, or third-variables. With these definitions, multiple third-variables can be considered simultaneously, and the indirect effects carried by individual third-variables can be separated from the total effect. In this paper, we extend the definitions of third-variable effects to multilevel data structures, where multilevel additive models are adapted to model the variable relationships. And then third-variable effects can be estimated at different levels. Moreover, transformations on variables are allowed to present nonlinear relationships among variables. We compile an R package mlma, to carry out the proposed multilevel third-variable analysis. Simulations show that the proposed method can effectively differentiate and estimate third-variable effects from different levels. Further, we implement the method to explore the racial disparity in body mass index accounting for both environmental and individual level risk factors.

SUBMITTER: Yu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7584256 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

Third-variable effect analysis with multilevel additive models.

Yu Qingzhao Q   Li Bin B  

PloS one 20201023 10


Third-variable effect refers to the effect transmitted by third-variables that intervene in the relationship between an exposure and a response variable. Third-variable effect analysis has been broadly studied in many fields. However, it remains a challenge for researchers to differentiate indirect effect of individual factor from multiple third-variables, especially when the involving variables are of hierarchical structure. Yu et al. (2014) defined third-variable effects that were consistent f  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC6722624 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7954135 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3865434 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7171980 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5756088 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3982924 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4560367 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5309201 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6373343 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6901947 | biostudies-literature