Citation

Giancola PR, Martin CS, Tarter RE, Pelham WE, Moss HB. J. Stud. Alcohol 1996; 57(4): 352-359.

Affiliation

Center for Education and Drug Abuse Research (CEDAR), University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15213-2593, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8776676

Abstract

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. METHOD: 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.

Language: en