Table 3.
Association between population density and blood lipids and mediation by objectively measured MVPA and SB adjusted for confounders
| IV | DV | MV | Effect of population density on lifestyle behaviors | Effect of lifestyle behaviors on blood lipids | Total effect | Direct effect | Indirect effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a-path) | (b-path) | (c-path) | (c′-path) | (a-path × b-path) | |||
| β 95% CI | β 95% CI | β 95% CI | β 95% CI | β 95% BCI | |||
| Population density per 1000 inhabitants | LDL cholesterol | MVPA | 0.00 (− 0.00, 0.00) | − 0.16 (− 0.91, 0.59) | 0.00 (− 0.02, 0.01) | 0.00 (− 0.02, 0.01) | 0.00 (0.00, 0.00) |
| SB | 0.00 (− 0.17, 0.16) | 0.00 (0.00, 0.01) | |||||
| TC/HDL cholesterol ratio | MVPA | 0.00 (− 0.00, 0.00) | − 0.43 (− 0.71, − 0.16) | 0.00 (− 0.01, 0.00) | 0.00 (− 0.01, 0.00) | 0.00 (0.00, 0.00) | |
| SB | 0.00 (− 0.17, 0.16) | 0.00 (0.00, 0.00) | |||||
| Triglycerides | MVPA | 0.00 (− 0.00, 0.00) | − 0.55 (− 1.02, − 0.08) | 0.00 (− 0.01, 0.01) | 0.00 (− 0.01, 0.01) | 0.00 (0.00, 0.00) | |
| SB | 0.00 (− 0.17, 0.16) | 0.00 (− 0.01, 0.00) |
Residuals of MVPA, TC/HDL and TG were not normally distributed and were, therefore, log transformed, this table presents log transformed data. italics regression coefficients and 95% confidence intervals are statistically significant p < 0.05
IV Independent variable, DV dependent variable, MV mediating variable, a-path association between population density and mediating variable, b-path association between mediating variable and blood lipid outcome, c-path association between population density and blood lipid outcome, c′-path association between population density and blood lipid outcome adjusted for mediating variables, indirect effect indirect effect of population density on blood lipid outcome through mediating variables, β unstandardized regression coefficient, 95% CI 95% confidence interval, BCI bootstrapped confidence interval, SB sedentary behavior expressed per 10 min, MVPA moderate to vigorous physical activity expressed per 10 min, TC/HDL cholesterol ratio total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, LDL low density lipoprotein cholesterol, TG triglycerides