Executive cognitive functioning mediates the relation between language competence and antisocial behavior in conduct-disordered adolescent females

The purpose of this study was to determine (1) whether adolescent females w ith a conduct disorder (CD) demonstrate inferior language skills and lower executive cognitive functioning (ECF) compared with controls and (2) whethe r the relations between language abilities and different forms of antisocia l behavior (ASB) are mediated by ECF, Language skills were measured using t he Test of Language Competence-Expanded, ECF was measured using multiple ne uropsychological tests, and ASB was assessed using various self-report and psychiatric interview indices reflecting mild delinquency to severe violenc e, Subjects were 223 adolescent females with a CD and 97 normal controls ra nging between 14 and 18 years of age (N = 320). The CD group demonstrated s ignificantly poorer language skills and lower ECF compared with the control s, Moreover, even when controlling for chronological age and socioeconomic status, ECF still fully mediated the relations between language competence and each measure of ASB, The results are discussed in relation to a neurobe havioral model of ASB. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.