Caregiver-child affective dynamics during preschool predict preadolescent suicidal thoughts and behaviors

While previous research highlights the significance of parenting and family dynamics in adolescent suicidal thoughts and behavior (STBs), there has been a limited focus on how early caregiver-child affective patterns may influence preadolescent STBs. This is important given the rise of STBs in preadolescents. This study employed a dynamic systems approach to explore the role of in-the-moment affective dynamics in caregiver-preschooler interactions on STB risk, focusing on affective variability and shared (positive, neutral, and negative) affect as risk factors for preschool and preadolescent STBs. Children (N = 135, X with a preschool depression) and their caregivers participated in a longitudinal study; STBs were assessed using clinical diagnostic interviews at preschool (ages 3–7 years) and in preadolescence (ages 8–12 years). Two groups were created to characterize history of STBs across the two periods: no/remitted-STBs and emerged/persistent STBs. During the preschool assessment, caregiver-child dyads completed two interaction tasks coded offline. State Space Grids (SSGs) were used to derive measures of dyadic affective flexibility and shared affect. Caregiver-preschooler affective dynamics were examined as predictors of STB history. Greater affective flexibility, less shared positive affect, and more shared neutral affect predicted a higher likelihood of preadolescent STBs. Follow-up analyses with all dyadic variables revealed the unique contributions of affective flexibility and less positive shared affect predicting STB status even when controlling for child psychopathology and caregiver depression. Findings suggest affective dynamics within the caregiver-preschooler relationship are associated with later STBs, suggesting a potential dyadic risk marker for poor relationship quality in this population.