Statistical mediation

Statistical mediation helps us understand how or why a particular effect occurs between two variables. For example, if increased education leads to higher income, mediation might reveal that education improves job skills, which in turn raises income. Here, the "mediator" (job skills) explains the connection. Essentially, mediation uncovers the mechanism behind a relationship, showing how one factor influences another through an intermediate process. It allows us to see not just if variables are linked, but how and why they are related.