Leveraging latent profile analysis to synthesize childhood and adolescent risk factors for suicidal ideation

Person-centered typologies identified with latent profile analysis can clarify patterns of chronic and acute risk factors for suicidal ideation. We derived five profiles of individuals using cognitive, behavioral, and familial factors relating to suicidal ideation risk factors. Participants (n = 1,142) were assessed at age 8 using the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery and mother-reported parenting measures and at age 14 using interviews about clinical symptoms and suicidal ideation. The best-fitting model included five profiles: typical, elevated adolescent symptomology, mildly elevated typical, low childhood persistence, and very low childhood persistence/mixed symptoms. Participants in the elevated adolescent symptomology and very low childhood persistence/mixed symptoms profiles were 2.6 and 5.3 times more likely to report suicidal ideation compared with the typical profile. Overall, our results underscore how using a person-centered pattern recognition approach and incorporating facets of childhood behavior may enhance conceptualizations of adolescent suicidal ideation risk.