"Temporal Mediators"

Temporal mediators are factors that influence the relationship between an initial cause and an eventual outcome over time. They serve as intermediate steps or processes that occur sequentially, helping explain how or why a particular effect develops. For example, if stress leads to health issues, a temporal mediator might be changes in sleep patterns that happen after stress but before health problems. Recognizing temporal mediators helps researchers understand the timing and mechanisms through which causes produce effects, highlighting the importance of specific processes that unfold over time in shaping outcomes.