Are Mediating Effects Influencing Each Other

[kane_nw]

Hello,

I have a model that consists of one exogenous variables, two mediators and two endogenous variables.

I calculate both mediators in the same model.

However, the direct effect is not significant in this model anymore (in the model before, it is, so I can go for mediation), but the indirect effect is. If I check for mediation, I only get a partial mediation (based on VAF). Does this mean that the two effects cannabilize each other?

When I am calculating every mediator in a separate model, I get different results.

So, does this mean that the two mediators are influencing each other?

Thank you for your answer.

[cringle]

Hi

we analyzed something like that in this article:
Klarner, P., Sarstedt, M., Höck, M., and Ringle, C. M. 2013. "Disentangling the Effects of Team Competences, Team Adaptability, and Client Communication on the Performance of Management Consulting Teams." Long Range Planning 46 (3): 258-286.

List of articles: http://info.smartpls.com/lit_list.pdf
PDFs: http://info.smartpls.com/lit_pdf.zip
Endnote File: http://info.smartpls.com/lit_endnote.zip

[kane_nw]

In other words: How can I explain that the indirect effect is significant, the direct effect (only one of the two direct effects) is not significant, but I only get a partial mediation via VAF?

Model looks like the following:

-> m1 -> y1
x
-> m2 -> y2

Direct effect: x -> y2 not significant (in the model before, it is), indirect effect x -> m1 -> y2 significant. VAF around 48%.

Only other path that is not significant in this model is the m2-> y2 path (but should not matter).


Do you have an idea why this effect occurs like in the model above (I read your paper and see this effect), but I am looking for a theoretical explanation for the (only) partial mediation.

Thank you in advance.