Table 1 Illustrative example of mutual adjustment
Unadjusted ORs for poor health (95% CI) | Interpretation under Fig. 2a | Partially Adjusted ORs for poor healtha (95% CI) | Interpretation under Fig. 2a | Mutually Adjusted ORs for poor healthb (95% CI) | Interpretation under Fig. 2a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low Education | 2.43 (1.32–4.47) | Total effect of education | 1.64 (0.84–3.19) | Direct effect of education, not mediated via occupation | 1.44 (0.72–2.85) | Direct effect of education, not mediated via occupation and income. |
Manual Occupation | 2.79 (1.73–4.48) | Total effect of occupation, confounded by education | 2.33 (1.39–3.93) | Total effect of occupation, not confounded by education | 1.99 (1.15–3.43) | Direct effect of occupation, not mediated via income, or confounded by education. |
Low Income | 2.48 (1.55–3.98) | Total effect of income, confounded by education and occupation | – | 1.68 (0.99–2.85) | Total effect of income, not confounded by occupation and education. |