Table 4.

Imputed data analyses: Total, indirect and direct effects of depressive symptoms (i.e., predictor) on harmful drinking (i.e., outcome) via deviant peers (i.e., mediator) [95% CI] (N = 2964)

	Step 0	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4
Total Effect (depressed mood to alcohol use)	.053 [.014, .092]	.065 [.020, .111]	.049 [0, .098]	.027 [-.022, .076]	.024 [-.025, .073]
Indirect effect (relationship via deviant peers)	.048 [.028, .068]	.057 [.037, .077]	.051 [.029, .073]	.034 [.014, .054]	.033 [.013, .053]
Direct effect (relationship adjusted for deviant peers)	.005 [-.034, .044]	.008 [-.039, .055]	-.002 [-.051, .047]	-.007 [-.056, .042]	-.009 [-.039, .059]
Effect proportion mediated (indirect/total ratio)	91%	87%	96%	83%	79%

Step 0: Unadjusted for confounders

Step 1: Adjusted for background confounders: financial difficulties, family education level, parents’ alcohol consumption, and parents’ depression

Step 2: Adjusted for background confounders + SDQ conduct problems

Step 3: Adjusted for background confounders + SDQ conduct problems + earlier mediator at age 13 (i.e., deviant peers)

Step 4: Adjusted for background confounders + SDQ conduct problems + earlier mediator at age 13 (i.e., deviant peers) + earlier outcome at 13 (i.e., alcohol use)