Centering in Multiple Regression Does Not Always Reduce Multicollinearity: How to Tell When Your Estimates Will Not Benefit From Centering

Within the context of moderated multiple regression, mean centering is recommended both to simplify the interpretation of the coefficients and to reduce the problem of multicollinearity. For almost 30 years, theoreticians and applied researchers have advocated for centering as an effective way to reduce the correlation between variables and thus produce more stable estimates of regression coefficients. By reviewing the theory on which this...