Divergent Effects of Communication Skills on Aggression Among Justice-Involved Youth with and without ADHD: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Higher rates of aggressive behavior have been reported among youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared to their peers without ADHD. However, it remains an under-explored question whether protective factors against aggression operate differently for youth with and without ADHD. Drawing on 10 years of statewide longitudinal data, this study examined communication skills as a protective factor against aggression for justice-involved youth with and without ADHD. Propensity score matching was used to minimize the difference in 20 observed covariates to increase the rigor of the estimates. We found significant protective effects of communication skills on aggression among justice-involved youth in juvenile justice residential facilities. Furthermore, youth with ADHD received amplified protective effects of communication skills. Our findings provided important implications for prevention and intervention.