Executive cognitive functioning and aggressive behavior in preadolescent boys at high risk for substance abuse/dependence.
OBJECTIVE
This study had three purposes; (1) to assess the underlying factor structure of a battery of neuropsychological tests putatively measuring executive cognitive functioning (ECF) in a sample of boys at high and low risk for substance abuse/dependence; (2) to assess the relationship between ECF and aggressive behavior; and (3) to determine the interactive effects of ECF and a family history (FH) of substance dependence on aggressive behavior.


METHODS
Multiple measures of ECF and aggressive behavior were used to test these relationships in a sample of 291 10-12 year old boys with and without a FH of substance dependence.


RESULTS
Analyses indicated that the measures of ECF loaded on one factor. ECF was related to aggressive behavior even when accounting for IQ and SES. The interaction between ECF and a FH of substance dependence was also associated with aggressive behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
The central finding of this investigation indicates that ECF and its interaction with a FH of substance dependence are associated with aggressive behavior. These results suggest that violence prevention and treatment efforts in high risk groups should incorporate cognitive habilitation focusing on training in ECFs.
Giancola
P R
PR
Center for Education and Drug Abuse Research (CEDAR), University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15213-2593, USA.
Martin
C S
CS
Tarter
R E
RE
Pelham
W E
WE
Moss
H B
HB
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011340:Problem Solving; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology