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Poorer language ability has been shown to predict the development of externalizing behavior problems such as aggression and conduct problems. However, the developmental process that links poorer language ability to externalizing problems is unclear. The present study examined (a) whether within-child changes in language ability predict within-child changes in externalizing problems,(b) whether social skills are a potential mechanism that explains the association between language ability and externalizing problems, and (c) whether there are sex-related differences in the association between language ability and externalizing problems. The present study examined these questions in children (N= 1,364) followed annually from 4 to 10 years of age. Language ability was assessed by a measure of receptive language (ie, vocabulary). Externalizing problems were rated by mothers and teachers. Social skills …