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date: 02 November 2024

Reverse Causation (Syn: reverse causality, retrocausality, backward causation) 

Source:
A Dictionary of Epidemiology
Author(s):

Miquel Porta

The biological, clinical, or social processes through which a causal relationship operates in a way opposite to that which is apparent; e.g., while the observed, apparent causal relationship is that F causes or alters Y (F→Y), the true, actual relationship is Y→F. Bidirectional effects (e.g., feedback between exposures) may also occur. For instance, it is possible both that religious service attendance may protect against depression and that depression may lead to lower levels of religious participation in some populations; seemingly protective associations between attendance at religious services and depression must consider that depressive disorders may influence subsequent discontinuation of such attendance.... ...

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