PS weighting (Robins et al., 2000) and “standardized mortality ratio” (SMR) weights, which assign a weight of 1 to the “exposed” group (Black or Latino) and the propensity odds (i.e., p/(1−p), where p is the predicted PS) to the comparison group (White). Specifically, we first weighted Blacks to Whites, and separately Latinos to Whites, on heavy drinking score alone. We then additionally weighted on all candidate mediators selected in prior steps, and compared effects for race/ethnicity on consequence and dependence counts across the two models, examining the total male drinker sample as well as no/low and moderate heavy drinkers alone. Substantial reductions in coefficients for race/ethnicity are suggestive of mediation.
