Childhood socioemotional development and growth mindset preceding schizophrenia: case–control study using prospectively collected data

BACKGROUND: Understanding premorbid socioemotional trajectories in schizophrenia is crucial for early identification and potential primary prevention. Studies in adults with schizophrenia suggest similar socioemotional premorbid difficulties, but are limited by their retrospective design. AIMS: To contribute new insights into the premorbid socioemotional characteristics of schizophrenia, beyond the biases of retrospective studies, this research investigates three educational socioemotional dimensions in children who later developed the disorder. METHOD: -normalised indicators based on standardised national tests administered in fourth, eighth and tenth grades in Chile. Mixed linear models accounted for repeated measures and adjusted for educational level, gender, grade point average, school and year. RESULTS: = 0.287, 95% CI 0.077-0.497). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that premorbid socioemotional characteristics in schizophrenia are detectable in childhood and may vary by gender. These findings highlight the potential of educational settings as platforms for preventive interventions aimed at enhancing parental support and monitoring students' psycho-emotional well-being, while acknowledging gender-specific developmental trajectories and heterogeneity in premorbid functioning.