[R] Strange paradox

[CHATTON Anne]

Hello,

I am currently analysed two nested models using the same sample. Both the simpler model (Model 1 ~ x1 + x2) and the more complex model (Model 2 ~ x1 + x2 + x3 + x4) yield the same adjusted R-square. Yet the p-value associated with the deviance statistic is highly significant (p=0.0047), suggesting that the confounders (x3 and x4) account for the prediction of the dependent variable.

Does anyone have an explanation of this strange paradox?

Thank you for any suggestion.

Anne