Mediation - Mediation and b path not significant, can I conclude that there is no relationship between the mediator and the dependent var?

[shannahw]

Hi all,

I have conducted a mediation analysis with Hayes PROCESS model 4. The overall mediation was not significant. Now, I am wondering the following:

If the mediation and the b path within the mediation are not significant, can I conclude that there is no relationship between the mediator and the dependent variable? Or should I further test this using another analysis, for example simple linear regression?

In included part of my analysis and the visual representation of this below.

 

[hlsmith]

I am not well versed in mediation analyses, but I will note in hypothesis testing you can't say there is no relationship, just that you failed to find or reveal a relationship.

 

[shannahw]

@hlsmith - Thank you, do know that, was maybe too little accurate in my description of my question