Multiple regression analysis is also used to assess whether confounding exists. Controlling for Confounding With Multiple Linear Regression Again, statistical tests can be performed to assess whether each regression coefficient is significantly different from zero. In the multiple regression situation, b 1, for example, is the change in Y relative to a one unit change in X 1, holding all other independent variables constant (i.e., when the remaining independent variables are held at the same value or are fixed). Each regression coefficient represents the change in Y relative to a one unit change in the respective independent variable. Where is the predicted or expected value of the dependent variable, X 1 through X p are p distinct independent or predictor variables, b 0 is the value of Y when all of the independent variables (X 1 through X p) are equal to zero, and b 1 through b p are the estimated regression coefficients. The multiple linear regression equation is as follows: Multiple linear regression analysis is an extension of simple linear regression analysis, used to assess the association between two or more independent variables and a single continuous dependent variable.