Answer:
In mediation, a new variable may be introduced that links the independent variable to the dependent variable. This new "connecting variable" is called a(n) mediating variable.
According to various authorities in the field of statistics and research methods, a mediating variable is a variable that "explains the relationship between the independent and dependent variables" (Cohen et al., 2018, p. 23). It is a variable that "serves as a conduit for the relationship between the independent and dependent variables" (Field, 2018, p. 123).
Explanation: