A Meta-Analytic Review of Preschool Social and Emotional Learning Interventions

2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Murano ◽  
Jeremy E. Sawyer ◽  
Anastasiya A. Lipnevich

This meta-analysis summarized the effects of universal and targeted social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions in 48 studies on the development of social and emotional skills and the reduction of problem behaviors in 15,498 preschool students. For universal SEL interventions delivered to all students, a random-effects model with 33 primary studies showed small to medium effects for the overall development of social and emotional skills (Hedges’s g = .34) and for the reduction of problem behaviors (g = .32), with an overall grand mean of g = .35. For targeted interventions, delivered to at-risk students identified as being in need of additional supports, a random-effects model with 15 primary studies showed medium effects for the overall development of social and emotional skills (Hedges’s g = .44) and for the reduction of problem behaviors (g = .50), with an overall grand mean of g = .48. A meta-regression model showed that intervention program accounted for 83% of heterogeneity in the overall effect size for universal interventions. Overall, this meta-analysis demonstrated that preschool children benefit from SEL interventions in different contexts, particularly those who were identified as being in need of early intervention. Moreover, best practices for preschool SEL interventions may differ from best practices for K–12 students, given the developmental uniqueness of the preschool years.

Author(s):  
Claire Blewitt ◽  
Heather Morris ◽  
Kylie Jackson ◽  
Helen Barrett ◽  
Heidi Bergmeier ◽  
...  

High-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) can strengthen the social and emotional skills that are crucial for children’s ongoing development. With research highlighting an increasing prevalence of emotional and behavioural challenges in young children, there is emphasis on embedding teaching practices and pedagogies to support social and emotional skills within early learning programs. A growing body of research has examined the impact of social and emotional learning programs in ECEC; however, few studies describe the intervention development process, or how educators and other professionals were engaged to increase the relevance and feasibility of the program. The current paper describes the development of the Cheshire Social-Emotional Engagement and Development (SEED) Educational Program, an online learning tool to support early childhood educators to foster children’s positive mental health. Cheshire SEED was designed using five steps of the Intervention Mapping methodology: (i) comprehensive needs assessment to create a logic model of the problem; (ii) creation of program outcomes and change objectives mapped against determinants of educator behaviour; (iii) co-design of theory-based methods and practical strategies; (iv) program development; and (v) adoption and implementation planning. The process and decisions at each step of the IM protocol are presented, and the strengths and limitations of the approach to develop a mental health intervention for ECEC settings are discussed.


Author(s):  
Claire Blewitt ◽  
Amanda O’Connor ◽  
Heather Morris ◽  
Andrea Nolan ◽  
Aya Mousa ◽  
...  

Early childhood educators play an important role in supporting children’s social and emotional development. While a growing body of research has examined the impact of curriculum-based social and emotional learning (SEL) programs on child outcomes, the approaches educators use to strengthen children’s social and emotional functioning through their everyday practices are less defined. This study explored Australian early childhood educators’ perspectives on children’s social and emotional development, the approaches educators use to encourage children’s social and emotional skills, the enablers and barriers to SEL within the preschool environment, and the additional support needed. Thirty Early Childhood Education and Care professionals participated in semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Findings suggest children’s social–emotional development is at the forefront of educator planning, practice, and reflection. Participants described utilising various approaches to support children’s social and emotional skills, embedded within interactions and relationships with children and families. Specifically, strategies could be grouped into four broad categories: a nurturing and responsive educator–child relationship; supporting SEL through everyday interactions and practice; utilising the physical environment to encourage SEL; and working in partnership with caregivers. There was, however, inconsistency in the variety and type of approaches identified. Time constraints, group size, educator confidence and capability, high staff turnover, and limited guidance regarding high-quality social and emotional pedagogy were identified as key barriers. Participants sought practical strategies that could be embedded into daily practice to build upon current knowledge.


2006 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 2156759X0601000
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Kress ◽  
Maurice J. Elias

Educators have come to recognize the importance of their efforts in building students' social and emotional skills. However, the creation of lasting programming often fails to keep pace with educators' best intentions. In this article, the authors suggest guidelines for ways in which school counselors can be involved in implementing sustained social and emotional learning interventions in a manner that is consistent with the values and goals of such programs.


Author(s):  
Linél Franck ◽  
Richard Midford ◽  
Helen Cahill ◽  
Petra T. Buergelt ◽  
Gary Robinson ◽  
...  

Boarding schools can provide quality secondary education for Aboriginal students from remote Aboriginal Australian communities. However, transition into boarding school is commonly challenging for Aboriginal students as they need to negotiate unfamiliar cultural, social and learning environments whilst being separated from family and community support. Accordingly, it is critical for boarding schools to provide programs that enhance the social and emotional skills needed to meet the challenges. This study evaluated a 10-session social and emotional learning (SEL) program for Aboriginal boarders and identified contextual factors influencing its effectiveness. The study combined a pre-post quantitative evaluation using diverse social and emotional wellbeing measures with 28 students between 13–15 years (10 female, 11 male, 7 unidentified) and qualitative post focus groups with 10 students and episodic interviews with four staff delivering the program. Students’ social and emotional skills significantly improved. The qualitative findings revealed improvements in students seeking and giving help, working in groups, managing conflict, being assertive and discussing cultural issues. The focus groups and interviews also identified program elements that worked best and that need improvement. Secure relationships with staff delivering the program and participation in single sex groups stood out as critical enablers. The findings lend evidence to the critical importance of collaborative design, provision and evaluation of SEL programs with Aboriginal peoples.


2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeroen Meganck ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
Bert Van Poucke ◽  
Elke Van Hoof ◽  
Els Snauwaert ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 17-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Kyed

En række sociologer har de seneste år peget på, at den postindustrielle serviceøkonomi stiller stadigt større krav til servicemedarbejderes sociale og følelsesmæssige kompetencer. Eva Illouz (2008) argumenterer eksempelvis for, at vestlige samfund kendetegnes af en ”emotionel kapitalisme”, hvor følelsesmæssige kompetencer er blevet en central stratifikationsfaktor, som marginaliserer især mænd med en traditionel arbejderklasse habitus. Men få studier har undersøgt, hvordan arbejdsgivere rent faktisk vurderer ansøgernes sociale og følelsesmæssige kompetencer. Gennem interviews og observationsstudier har artiklens forfatter undersøgt, hvordan verdens største ambulanceoperatør vurderer og værdsætter ansøgeres sociale og følelsesmæssige kompetencer gennem rekrutteringsprocessen til stillingen som ambulanceredderelev. Artiklen viser med udgangspunkt i fire ansættelsessamtaler med mandlige ansøgere, hvordan ansøgerens primære følelsesmæssige habitus har betydning for samtalens udfald og de sympatirelationer, som skabes i forbindelse med samtalen. Data viser også, at selvom ledelsen fremhæver, at personlighed og empati er afgørende i screeningen af ansøgerne, så anvender virksomheden ikke personlighedstest eller andre psykologiske teknologier i rekrutteringsprocessen. Sociale og følelsesmæssige kompetencer vurderes derimod ud fra ansøgerens institutionaliserede omsorgskapital samt bedømmelsesudvalgets mavefornemmelse af ansøgerens følelsesmæssige dispositioner og evne til at passe ind både i faget og virksomhed. ENGELSK ABSTRACT: Morten Kyed: ”We Are a Business that Is Really above Average in Empathy”: Recruiting ”Soft Competences” in Ambulance Service A number of sociologists have suggested that the post-industrial service economy is placing increasing demands on service employees’ social and emotional skills. Eva Illouz (2008), for instance, argues that Western societies are characterised by an ”emotional capitalism”, in which emotional competencies are pivotal for social stratification and marginalisation of men with a traditional working class habitus. However, few studies have examined how employers actually assess applicants’ social and emotional skills. Through interviews and observational studies, the author has studied how the world’s largest ambulance operator assesses and evaluates social and emotional skills of ambulance apprentice applicants. Employing four job interviews with male candidates, the article illustrates how the applicant’s primary emotional habitus is important for the construction of sympathy relations during the job interviews and the outcome of the conversation. The data also shows that although management emphasises that personality and empathy are crucial when screening applicants, the company does not use personality tests or other psychological technologies in the recruitment process. Assessment of social and emotional skills is based on the candidate’s ”institutionalised care capital” and the assessment committee’s gut feeling about the applicant’s emotional disposition and ability to fit into both the vocation and the company. Keywords: service work, service economy, recruitment, social competences, emotional competences, gender.


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