Research has implicated oral language deficits as risk factors for antisocial behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between higher order language skills and youth offending through a risk, promotive and risk-based protective factor paradigm. In a sample of adolescent males (n = 130; 13 to 20 years; 62% youth offenders) skills in understanding ambiguity, making inferences, and understanding figurative language were demonstrated to have risk and promotive effects in association with youth offending. Figurative language also met criteria for having risk-based protective effects for youth at high offending risk due to poor nonverbal skills. Conceptualization of higher order language skills through this paradigm promotes a broader frame of reference for considering theoretical models and practical interventions.

研究表明口头语言缺陷是反社会行为的危险因素。这项研究的目的是通过风险，动机和基于风险的保护因素范式来研究高级语言技能与青少年犯罪之间的关系。在青春期男性的样本（Ñ = 130; 13至20年；62％的青少年罪犯）理解歧义，做出推断和理解比喻语言的技能与青少年犯罪相关联，具有风险和促进作用。比喻性语言还符合对因非语言能力较差而处于较高冒犯风险的年轻人提供基于风险的保护作用的标准。通过这种范例将高阶语言技能概念化，为考虑理论模型和实际干预提供了更广泛的参考框架。