LAUSR

Key Points Question What can population patterns of early childhood social-emotional functioning tell us about the emergence of mental health conditions? Findings In this cohort study that included 34 323 children in Canada, 6 latent social-emotional functioning profiles based on children’s relative strengths and vulnerabilities in social competence, internalizing, and externalizing symptoms at age 5 years were associated with the onset of subsequent mental health conditions between ages 6 and 14 years. Meaning This examination of early childhood social-emotional functioning profiles identified social disparities in profile membership and an association between profiles and the emergence of mental health conditions.