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Peer-reviewed article

A Practical Guide to Conditional Mediation Analysis With GSCA: Method, Simulation, and Software

In-Hyun Baek · Gyeongcheol Cho · Heungsun Hwang

Methodology
Structural Equation ModelingSoftwareTutorialSimulation Study

2026 · Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal

Author’s introduction (LinkedIn)

Journal DOI: 10.1080/10705511.2026.2674637 Open access

Abstract

Conditional mediation (CoMe) analysis integrates mediation and moderation to examine how an indirect effect transmitted through a mediator varies across levels of a moderator. In this tutorial, we show how to conduct CoMe analysis in generalized structured component analysis (GSCA), a component-based structural equation modeling approach. We first outline the technical foundations of GSCA-based CoMe analysis and then report a simulation study evaluating its performance relative to partial least squares path modeling, another component-based approach. We also present an empirical illustration that provides step-by-step guidance for implementing GSCA-based CoMe analysis using GSCA Pro, a free, user-friendly software package.

Version of record (author-provided PDF) · Abstract source · Author-authorized abstract

Figures 5 images

Select an image to view it at full size. Captions identify the source and version.

Figure 1

Two diagrams for conditional mediation Model A: W moderates the X-to-M path; the statistical model includes the X-by-W interaction along with paths from X, W, and the interaction to M, followed by M to Y.
Caption & source

Conceptual and statistical specifications of CoMe Model A.

Version of record (author-provided PDF; author-uploaded ResearchGate copy) · Figure source · Author-authorized reproduction; no open license asserted

Baek, Cho, and Hwang (2026), Figure 1. Copyright 2026 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Reproduced from the author-provided version of record at the author's request.

Figure 2

Two diagrams for conditional mediation Model B: W moderates the M-to-Y path; the statistical model includes the M-by-W interaction, the direct X-to-Y path, and paths from M, W, and the interaction to Y.
Caption & source

Conceptual and statistical specifications of CoMe Model B.

Version of record (author-provided PDF; author-uploaded ResearchGate copy) · Figure source · Author-authorized reproduction; no open license asserted

Baek, Cho, and Hwang (2026), Figure 2. Copyright 2026 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Reproduced from the author-provided version of record at the author's request.

Figure 3

Two diagrams for conditional mediation Model C: W moderates both the X-to-M and M-to-Y paths; the statistical model includes X-by-W and M-by-W interaction terms.
Caption & source

Conceptual and statistical specifications of CoMe Model C.

Version of record (author-provided PDF; author-uploaded ResearchGate copy) · Figure source · Author-authorized reproduction; no open license asserted

Baek, Cho, and Hwang (2026), Figure 3. Copyright 2026 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Reproduced from the author-provided version of record at the author's request.

Figure 4

Path diagrams for the three simulation models: Model A has an X-by-W term predicting M, Model B has an M-by-W term predicting Y, and Model C includes both interactions.
Caption & source

Three CoMe models specified for the simulation study.

Version of record (author-provided PDF; author-uploaded ResearchGate copy) · Figure source · Author-authorized reproduction; no open license asserted

Baek, Cho, and Hwang (2026), Figure 4. Copyright 2026 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Reproduced from the author-provided version of record at the author's request.

Figure 5

GSCA Pro screenshot of the empirical conditional mediation model with PAS, PUC, DPND, PTC, IU, EPS, and the EPS-by-PTC interaction, plus the indicator assignment panel.
Caption & source

Specification of the example CoMe model in GSCA Pro.

Version of record (author-provided PDF; author-uploaded ResearchGate copy) · Figure source · Author-authorized reproduction; no open license asserted

Baek, Cho, and Hwang (2026), Figure 5. Copyright 2026 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Reproduced from the author-provided version of record at the author's request.

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Cite this work

In-Hyun Baek, Gyeongcheol Cho, & Heungsun Hwang (2026). A practical guide to conditional mediation analysis with GSCA: Method, simulation, and software. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705511.2026.2674637

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