Social skills, executive functioning and social engagement

The study explored hypothesized mediation of social interaction skills between executive functions and social engagement among adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia. Participants (N = 92; 62% boys; age = 16.8) were assessed four weeks after hospitalization using previously validated scales. A regression mediation analysis followed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM; with bootstrap analysis) supported the hypothesis. Executive functions were significantly associated with communication skills, which in turn was associated with social engagement (indirect effect = 0.29; standardized). These findings highlight the importance of understanding the heterogeneity of executive functions among adolescent patients with schizophrenia, and the subsequent association with their social skills and engagement.