Causal mediation analysis concerns the pathways through which a treatment affects an outcome. While most of the mediation literature focuses on settings with a single mediator, a flourishing line of research has considered settings involving multiple causally ordered mediators, under which a set of path-specific effects (PSEs) are often of interest. We consider estimation of PSEs for the general case where the treatment effect operates through $K(\geq1)$ causally ordered, possibly multivariate mediators. We first define a set of PSEs that are identified under Pearl's nonparametric structural equation model. These PSEs are defined as contrasts between the expectations of $2^{K+1}$ potential outcomes, which are identified via what we call the generalized mediation functional (GMF). We introduce an array of regression-imputation, weighting, and "hybrid" estimators, and, in particular, two $K+2$-robust and locally semiparametric efficient estimators for the GMF. The latter estimators are well suited to the use of data-adaptive methods for estimating their nuisance functions. We establish rate conditions required of the nuisance functions for semiparametric efficiency. We also discuss how our framework applies to several causal and noncausal estimands that may be of particular interest in empirical applications. The proposed estimators are illustrated with a simulation study and an empirical example.
翻译:虽然大多数调解文献侧重于单一调解人的设置,但一股蓬勃的研究线考虑了涉及多重因果指令调解者的各种背景,在这些背景中,往往对一系列路径特有效应感兴趣。我们考虑对一般案例的PSEs进行估计,在一般案例中,治疗效果是通过K(geq1)美元,可能是多变调解者以因果方式运作的,我们首先界定了在Pearl的非参数性结构方程式模式下确定的一套PSE。这些PSE的定义是:2 Q+1美元的潜在结果的预期之间的对比,而这种预期是通过我们所谓的普遍调解功能(GMF)确定的。我们采用了一系列回归性估计、加权和“交错性”估测器,特别是2 $+2美元和当地半偏差性高效估测器。后一种估测器非常适合使用数据适应性方法来估计其潜在结果,而这种预期值是通过我们所谓的普遍调解功能(GMF)确定的。我们提出了一系列回归性估测算、加权和“顺差性”估计性估算性功能,我们为一些估算性估算性判断性模型和模拟性判断性判断性框架所需的条件。我们用了一种不作准性判断性判断性判断性判断性判断性框架。我们所需要的条件要求为一种非性判断性判断性判断性判断性判断性判断性框架。我们为一种非性判断性判断性判断性判断性判断性功能。我们为一种非性判断性判断性判断性框架。我们为一种不作。