Table 4

Mediation of the associations between father’s SEP and CVD and non-CVD mortality by social and behavioural risk factors, the Stockholm Public Health Cohort (both IOW and traditional methods were used) (n=19 720)

CVD mortalityNon-CVD mortality
IRR (95% CI*)IRR (95% CI*)
Mediation by education and adult SEP
IOW approach
  Total effect1.24 (1.09 to 1.41)1.15 (1.04 to 1.27)
  Natural direct effect1.17 (1.00 to 1.35)1.09 (0.96 to 1.21)
  Natural indirect effect1.06 (1.01 to 1.11)1.05 (1.02 to 1.09)
  Proportion mediated§29%38%
Traditional approach
  Total effect1.24 (1.09 to 1.41)1.15 (1.04 to 1.27)
  Direct effect1.14 (0.99 to 1.32)1.09 (0.96 to 1.21)
  Indirect effect1. 08 (1.05 to 1.12)1.05 (1.03 to 1.08)
  Proportion mediated§39%38%
Mediation by education, adult SEP+behavioural factors
IOW approach
  Total effect1.24 (1.09 to 1.41)1.15 (1.04 to 1.27)
  Natural direct effect1.13 (0.99 to 1.30)1.09 (0.97 to 1.21)
  Natural indirect effect1.09 (1.04 to 1.14)1.06 (1.01 to 1.10)
  Proportion mediated§44%42%
Traditional approach
 Total effect1.24 (1.09 to 1.41)1.15 (1.04 to 1.27)
 Direct effect1.10 (0.96 to 1.26)1.08 (0.97 to 1.20)
 Indirect effect1. 13 (1.08 to 1.18)1.07 (1.03 to 1.10)
 Proportion mediated§59%49%
  • *Percentile-based bootstrap CIs are reported.

  • †Adjusted for age, gender, country of birth and marital status.

  • ‡Obtained by applying the inverse odds weights in addition to adjusting for age, gender, country of birth and marital status.

  • §The proportion mediated was calculated using the formula: {IRRNDE (IRRNIE− 1)/(IRRNDE * IRRNIE− 1)}*100.

  • ¶Adjusted for age, gender, country of birth, marital status and the mediators of interest.

  • CVD, cardiovascular diseases; IOW, inverse odds weighting; IRR, incidence rate ratio; SEP, socioeconomic position.