Abstract This longitudinal study examined mental health trajectories in a Chilean child cohort (N = 468, 48.9% girls; 19.2% children of migrant mothers) from ages three to six, spanning the pre-, during-, and post-COVID-19 periods. Group-based multitrajectory modeling identified five profiles: three lower-symptom (82.9%) and two higher-risk groups (17.1%), characterized by persistent or escalating co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems. Early high symptoms predicted continued difficulties through age 6. Prepandemic negative affect and maternal depressive symptoms were early risk factors, while COVID-related stressors—hostile parenting and income loss—predicted higher-risk group membership. Maternal mental health deterioration further contributed to symptom escalation. Findings highlight the heterogeneity of early childhood mental health postpandemic and the need for early identification of psychosocial risk factors.
Narea et al. (Mon,) studied this question.