In this article, the authors attempt to distinguish between the properties of moderator and mediator variables at a number of levels. First, the authors seek to make theorists and researchers aware of the importance of not using the terms 'moderator' and 'mediator' interchangeably by carefully elaborating, both conceptually and strategically, the many ways in which moderators and mediators differ. The authors then delineate the conceptual and strategic implications of making use of such distinctions with regard to a wide range of phenomena, including control and stress, attitudes, and personality traits. They also provide a specific compendium of analytic procedures appropriate for making the most effective use of the moderator and mediator distinction, both separately and in terms of a broader causal system that includes both moderators and mediators.
Abstract