Profiles of migrant preschoolers’ social–emotional competence: Association with mindful parenting

This study investigates the diverse social–emotional competence profiles of Chinese migrant preschoolers, a group often facing unique developmental challenges. Using data from 178 Chinese migrant preschoolers ( M age = 5.08 years), we identified distinct social–emotional profiles based on four core indicators of social–emotional competence. We also examined the role of mindful parenting in predicting these social–emotional profiles. Latent profile analysis (LPA) revealed three profiles: Low, Mixed, and High Social–Emotional Competence. Further analysis showed that lower parental emotional awareness of the child predicted membership in the Low versus High profile, while lower parental compassion and acceptance predicted membership in the Mixed versus High profile. Our findings highlight the heterogeneity of social–emotional competence among migrant children and underscore the importance of tailored interventions that focus on enhancing specific aspects of mindful parenting to support their social–emotional development.