Moderation or Mediation?

[C_T]

Hi, sorry i'm a psychology student and still new to advanced statistics.
For my dissertation i'm thinking of looking at the relationship between cosmetic surgery game exposure and body image in young teenagers - however i'm also wanting to look at how self-esteem can affect this relationship, but i'm not sure if this would be a mediator or a moderator?
Thank you!

 

[Karabiner]

, sorry i'm a psychology student and still new to advanced statistics.

I don't think that this is a statistical problem in the first place. It is a question of your theoretical assumptions, of your knowledge about the subject matter, of reasoning. Since you did not explain how the concepts are defined, how your study was desinged (who was assessed when and how), and what your own ideas about the relationships are, one has to gues too much and it is difficult to make a statement.

With kind regards

Karabiner

 

[hlsmith]

You should draw a causal diagram and apply your assumptions/knowledge.


Are effects mediated, so there an antecedent relationship or are both present and their dual presences result in an antagonist or say synergistic impact. You have to figure out the relationship between the variables. We don't know your study content.