The study has three independent variable (IV), one Mediating Variable (M) and one dependent Variable (DV). When we are checking the relationship through path analysis I found that there is no significant relationship between independent variable and dependent variable. But mediating variable has significant relationship between dependent variable.

When I am checking the mediation through Sobel test it shows there is a significant relationship between independent variable and dependent variable. This is a contradictory to the result of path of analysis. Kindly suggest me why is it so.