Consider a classical mediation setup with three variables: Y is the dependent variable, X is the predictor, and M is a mediator. For illustration, we create a toy dataset containing these three variables, and fit a path analysis model that includes the direct effect of X on Y and the indirect effect of X on Y via M.
set.seed(1234)X <-rnorm(100)M <-0.5*X +rnorm(100)Y <-0.7*M +rnorm(100)Data <-data.frame(X = X, Y = Y, M = M)model <-' # direct effect Y ~ c*X # mediator M ~ a*X Y ~ b*M # indirect effect (a*b) ab := a*b # total effect total := c + (a*b) 'fit <-sem(model, data = Data)summary(fit)
lavaan 0.6.18.2004 ended normally after 1 iteration
Estimator ML
Optimization method NLMINB
Number of model parameters 5
Number of observations 100
Model Test User Model:
Test statistic 0.000
Degrees of freedom 0
Parameter Estimates:
Standard errors Standard
Information Expected
Information saturated (h1) model Structured
Regressions:
Estimate Std.Err z-value P(>|z|)
Y ~
X (c) 0.036 0.104 0.348 0.728
M ~
X (a) 0.474 0.103 4.613 0.000
Y ~
M (b) 0.788 0.092 8.539 0.000
Variances:
Estimate Std.Err z-value P(>|z|)
.Y 0.898 0.127 7.071 0.000
.M 1.054 0.149 7.071 0.000
Defined Parameters:
Estimate Std.Err z-value P(>|z|)
ab 0.374 0.092 4.059 0.000
total 0.410 0.125 3.287 0.001
The example illustrates the use of the ":=" operator in the lavaan model syntax. This operator ‘defines’ new parameters which take on values that are an arbitrary function of the original model parameters. The function, however, must be specified in terms of the parameter labels that are explicitly mentioned in the model syntax. By default, the standard errors for these defined parameters are computed by using the so-called Delta method. As with other models, bootstrap standard errors can be requested simply by specifying se = "bootstrap" in the fitting function.