Cognitive distortions, aggressive behavior, and drug use in adolescent boys with and without a family history of a substance use disorder

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the relations between (a ) cognitive distortions and aggressive behavior, (b) cognitive distortions and drug use, and (c) aggressive behavior and drug use are moderated by a f amily history of a substance use disorder (SUD) in adolescent boys. Partici pants were 165 boys aged 15-17 years with (FH+; n = 75) and without (FH-; n = 90) a family history of SUD. Results indicated that a family history of SUD moderated the relation between cognitive distortions and aggressive beh avior and the relation between aggressive behavior and drug use. Family his tory of SUD did not moderate the relation between cognitive distortions and drug use; however, cognitive distortions were positively related to drug u se within both groups.