Comparison with prior literature
drug abuse
To our knowledge, no prior study has empirically examined the mediating factors that explain the effect of combining UCT and CBT interventions on ASB. Previous studies have found little evidence that psychological skills including emotional intelligence or social skills, self-control or “grit,” mediate the effect of behavioral interventions on crime [Evidence from our study suggests that CBT combined with UCT did not generate meaningful changes in key psychological and cognitive functions, which is consistent with the finding that CBT alone does not reduce ASB. Possible mechanisms may include changes in behavior such as drug abuse and conduct problems; psychological and cognitive functions other than those assessed in our study, such as resilience, temperament, or coping mechanisms; family dynamics, rearing practices, or social networks; and changes in the social environment [