Social And Emotional Learning Interventions Research Articles

Acceptability and preliminary impact of a school-based SEL program for rural children in China: A quasi-experimental study

While Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) as school-based mental health preventative interventions have been extensively examined in western contexts, they have not yet been studied much in China. Several SEL programs have been developed or adapted for Chinese contexts, but few studies have examined their intervention effects in resource constrained settings, especially rare in rural schools. This study serves as the first to examine the acceptability and preliminary impact of a school-based SEL intervention in rural Chinese elementary schools. A quasi-experimental pre- and post-intervention study with a two-level cluster design was adopted. The sample consisted of 1247 fifth graders nested within 28 classrooms in Southwest China. Students rated the SEL curriculum as highly satisfactory, interesting, helpful, and practical. Findings demonstrated significant SEL intervention effects on rural children’s overall self-reported social and emotional competencies (ES = 0.213) and three subdomains including self-awareness (ES = 0.342), social awareness (ES = 0.25), and relationship skills (ES = 0.185). However, no intervention effects were found in the subdomains including self-management and responsive decision-making. Additionally, the subgroup analysis revealed that children of work-away parents, as well as boys, obtained greater benefits from the SEL intervention. These findings are interpreted in light of their practice, research, and policy implications to further strengthen school-based SEL efforts for improving rural children’s wellbeing.

Children’s Perceptions of a Therapy Dog-Assisted Social and Emotional Learning Intervention: Survey and Interview Findings

ABSTRACT Therapy dogs can improve the social and mental health outcomes for children and adolescents. School-based interventions that address social and emotional learning (SEL) can promote children’s overall wellbeing and educational outcomes. This study used a qualitative approach to explore children’s perceptions of a 12-week therapy dog-assisted SEL intervention in a mainstream primary school in Australia. Open-ended survey questions were completed by 85 Year 5 students and five of these students engaged in a follow-up interview. A thematic analysis identified three main themes: 1) empowerment through emotional learning, 2) positive relationships with peers and family, and 3) personal growth. Empowerment through emotional learning included the subthemes of experiencing, understanding, regulating, and expressing emotions. Positive relationships included the subtheme of communication. Both the SEL components of the program and the integration of a therapy dog appear to have contributed to a perceived positive impact on children’s wellbeing overall. This study contributes to the evidence of how therapy dogs can impact school environments and provides a structure for how a therapy dog can support student wellbeing.

Implementing targeted social and emotional learning interventions in schools—Are more specific models needed?

AbstractSchools are increasingly encouraged to adopt evidence‐based or evidence informed interventions and implement them using insights from implementation science. The literature relating to implementation of interventions in schools has focused largely on universal interventions, particularly for social and emotional learning (SEL), which are designed for all children and young people. In contrast, targeted interventions provide additional support for those pupils who may require small group or individual support over and above that provided at the universal level. To date there has been limited consideration of factors which are important for the implementation of targeted SEL interventions. Data from an exploratory case study with two schools implementing Lego therapy are used to illustrate the implementation factors relevant to this targeted intervention. Findings indicate similarities in universal and targeted intervention core components and factors but also a number of distinct elements that are important to consider when implementing Lego therapy and potentially other targeted SEL interventions. Key considerations include the interaction with the wider school system, the pivotal role of the intervention champion, and the importance of external support for problem solving and sustainability. The resulting model may inform further development of implementation frameworks for Lego therapy and other targeted SEL interventions.

Nurturing positive mental health and wellbeing in educational settings - the PRICES model.

This article presents a comprehensive framework for the implementation of social and emotional learning (SEL) programs as a means of health promotion in educational settings, to positively impact student, school, and adult mental health and wellbeing across education. It emphasizes the profound impact of education on life trajectories and success definitions. Drawing inspiration from the Greek myth of Icarus and Maya Angelou's poem "Still I Rise," it explores contrasting notions of success and their consequences. Schools play a pivotal role in shaping students' wellbeing across multiple dimensions and developmental stages. Because of this, holistic mental health and wellbeing promotion that takes a whole-school approach is critical. The paper introduces the PRICES framework (Preparation and Access, Restoration, Integration, Connection and Community, Educator Support, Strengths-Based Cultivation and Student Voice) as a comprehensive method for implementing SEL programs in educational systems. Each component of the PRICES framework is discussed in detail, emphasizing its role in fostering positive health promotion within schools. Examples of implementation plans that operationalize this model through a co-development process focusing on the Social, Emotional, and Ethical (SEE) Learning program are also presented. The PRICES model encourages a shift towards a more holistic approach to education, nurturing social and emotional development alongside academic achievement. By prioritizing wellbeing, fostering a sense of community, and integrating evidence based SEL interventions, schools can positively impact the mental health and overall flourishing of students and educators, contributing to thriving communities.

Mindfulness-based interventions for preadolescent children: A comprehensive meta-analysis

Among the many social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions available, mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have become increasingly popular, particularly for preadolescent children who were once thought to not possess the metacognitive abilities or cognitive resources to benefit from such training. Although previous research syntheses indicate that MBIs show promise in promoting positive outcomes across a range of domains, the effectiveness of MBIs for preadolescent children may be masked by the effects of older children who have comprised the majority of samples in past meta-analyses. Hence, to better understand the impact of mindfulness-based training on preadolescent children (ages 6–12 years), the present study reviewed treatment effect estimates across a range of outcomes, including mindfulness, attention, metacognition and cognitive flexibility, emotional and behavioral regulation, academic achievement and school functioning, positive emotion and self-appraisal, negative emotion and subjective distress, externalizing problems, internalizing problems, social competence and prosocial behavior, and physical health. Thirty-two studies (nparticipants = 3640) were identified and included in a random-effects meta-analyses. The results from multiple meta-analytical analyses conducted in the present study suggest that preadolescents have experienced significant benefits across attention, emotional and behavioral regulation, positive emotion and self-appraisal, and social competence and prosocial behavior (g = 0.19 to 0.39). However, the overall effect was deemed small (g = 0.34). Due to the lack of comparison studies with SEL interventions, it remains unclear whether MBIs are as effective as traditional approaches in promoting healthy development and academic achievement for preadolescent children. Additionally, results from the present meta-analysis suggest various recommendations for future studies to ensure a continued growth in understanding how MBIs can be used with children.

Examining the impact of a universal social and emotional learning intervention (Passport) on internalising symptoms and other outcomes among children, compared to the usual school curriculum: study protocol for a school-based cluster randomised trial

BackgroundSchool-based universal social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions implemented during the transition to adolescence may be efficacious in preventing the development of mental health difficulties. This protocol describes a two-arm parallel cluster randomised controlled trial to investigate the impact of a universal SEL intervention (Passport, compared to usual provision) on internalising symptoms (primary outcome), emotion regulation, well-being, loneliness, social support, bullying, academic attainment, and health-related quality of life in English primary school pupils aged 9–11 years. A developer-led trial demonstrated the feasibility, acceptability, and utility of Passport; this will be the first independent trial.MethodsSixty primary schools will be recruited across the Greater Manchester city region and surrounding areas, involving 2400 pupils aged 8–9 at baseline. Schools will be allocated to the intervention arm to implement Passport over 18 weekly sessions or to the control arm to implement the usual school curriculum. Random allocation will be at school level following completion of baseline measures, with minimisation to ensure balance across trial arms in school size and free school meal eligibility. Measures will be collected at baseline, post-intervention (12 months post-baseline), and at 12 months follow-up (24 months post-baseline). The primary outcome analysis (intervention effects on internalising symptoms at post-intervention) will comprise a two-level (school, child) hierarchical linear model, following the intention-to-treat principle. Additional analyses will be undertaken to assess intervention effects on secondary outcomes, maintenance effects for all outcomes, intervention compliance moderator effects, subgroup moderator effects, and mechanisms underpinning intervention effects on the primary outcome. A mixed-methods implementation and process evaluation will examine factors that influence implementation, and a health economic evaluation will assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention.DiscussionFindings will provide educators with crucial knowledge of whether and how increasing emotion regulation through a universal intervention impacts internalising symptoms and a range of related outcomes. Findings will also inform policy related to the promotion of mental health among children and young people. If the intervention is found to be efficacious in reducing internalising symptoms and is also cost-effective, it may offer high potential as a preventative intervention for widespread implementation.Trial registrationISRCTN12875599; registered on 24 November 2022

Exploring Malaysian parents' and teachers' cultural conceptualization of adolescent social and emotional competencies: A qualitative formative study.

Global implementation of social and emotional learning (SEL) has been suggested to incorporate a systematic cultural adaptation process which relies on ground-up empirical data of a target cultural group in tailoring a culturally sensitive SEL intervention. Preliminary formative studies among local parents and educators were done to explore the conceptualization of social and emotional competencies (SECs) in various cultural settings, such as the continent of Africa and among the indigenous and refugee groups. Unfortunately, little scholarship has been devoted to studying the SEL adaptation process in Southeast Asian regions. This formative study aimed to explore Malaysian parents' and teachers' cultural conceptualization of adolescent SECs. This qualitative study interviewed 12 Malaysian parents and 10 Malaysian teachers comprising of Malay (82%), Chinese (9%) and Indian (9%) races in an online focus group discussion. Sampling is purposive to parents of adolescents and teachers at secondary school only. Data were analyzed thematically to determine the culturally sensitive SEL constructs for Malaysian adolescents. All themes and sub-themes of SEC regarded as crucial for Malaysian adolescents are aligned with CASEL's five domains of competencies. Our findings extended the conceptualization of subskills under CASEL's relationship skills and responsible decision-making domains, which reflect Asian cultural values. The main themes of social competency: (a) preserving interpersonal relationships, (b) utilizing intrapersonal skills, and (c) communicating effectively, are shared with the established CASEL constructs. However, the underlying subthemes denote the unique cultural manifestation of social competency in Malaysia. Two of the emotional competency themes represent the established CASEL constructs: (a) practicing self-regulation, (b) demonstrating help-seeking behavior, and the other two themes signify Asian values: (c) upholding altruism, and (d) maintaining cultural display rules. This formative study revealed the habitual use of experiential and expressive suppressions as adaptive emotion regulation strategies in Malaysian collectivist culture and offered a potential alternative emotion regulation pathway suitable for Malaysian adolescents. It also informed the feasibility of implementing SEL modules developed based on the CASEL framework in Malaysia and suggested two key lessons to enhance the cultural sensitivity of SEL in Malaysia: effective, respectful communication and expressive writing.

An equitable and scalable approach to track fidelity of implementation in partnership with teachers

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is a key focus of early childhood education. A significant body of research demonstrates the critical impact of fidelity of SEL curriculum and intervention implementation on child outcomes; however, few widely-used curricula regularly assess classroom-level implementation fidelity outside of the context of research or correlate fidelity with key areas of children’s development of these skills. Fidelity measurement often focuses on easy-to-quantify variables such as classroom environment or lesson plan adherence, and is a periodic snapshot used as a moderator or co-variate when assessing child outcomes, rather than being intentionally leveraged as a systematic, ongoing process to evaluate and support implementation. In this paper, we present a novel approach to capturing fidelity data as a core component of professional development. We outline our findings from a pilot of our approach using short, teacher-recorded videos submitted across the school year as a vehicle for capturing and sharing real-time data related to professional learning, implementation, and curricula impact, as well as a framework for building equitable partnerships with teachers. Results from the initial pilot of this approach in several hundred classrooms across the US demonstrate feasibility and utility and suggest that teacher-recorded videos can offer a scalable means to collect continuous samples of fidelity data, providing a richer view of professional learning, while simultaneously creating the opportunity to provide ongoing feedback and engage teachers in partnership in reflecting on practice and its impact on children’s development. We developed and piloted an approach where teachers record and upload videos of teaching practices and children engaging with their peers in specific classroom activities via a mobile application. Each video submission has a focal activity and associated set of indicators which are shared with teachers in advance to create an equitable feedback system in which both curriculum staff and teachers engage in reflecting on children’s interactions and the application of the curricular approach in their classroom. Videos are viewed and coded on these sets of indicators by both the teachers and curricular coaches who provide targeted feedback in an interactive exchange on a dashboard accessible by teachers and their curricular coach.

An evaluation of a dog-assisted social and emotional learning intervention in a school setting: Study protocol for a cluster-randomised trial

Many children and adolescents experience mental health problems which has highlighted the need for early intervention. Social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions in schools can support the wellbeing of children. There is also increasing recognition of the benefits of therapy dogs on the psychological, biological and social aspects of children's wellbeing. Although there has been growing interest in using therapy dogs in primary school settings, research within the school setting has been impeded by methodological limitations. In particular, there is limited research investigating therapy dog-assisted SEL interventions within mainstream schools. The negative long-term impact of mental health problems and poor social competence make early intervention and prevention a focus. This paper outlines the protocol to implement a therapy dog-assisted SEL intervention using Merrell's Strong Kids Grades 3-5 Program in an Australian primary school using a cluster-randomised trial. Students in Year 5 will take part in the program and classes will be randomly allocated to one of three groups: (1) control/waitlist group, (2) SEL intervention group and (3) therapy dog-assisted SEL intervention group. The primary outcome is social competence (prosocial skills and SEL knowledge), and the secondary outcome is internalising behaviour (symptoms of anxiety and depression). A third outcome of engagement will also be investigated. Findings from this research will contribute to the discussion regarding the use of therapy dogs in schools and, if proven effective, will provide a way to incorporate a therapy dog into a school setting to support social competence and the wellbeing of students. Trial number: ACTRN12622000765729 on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry.

¿Qué significan las intervenciones de aprendizaje social y emocional (SEL)? Un meta-análisis

This meta-analysis study aimed to examine the effects of 51 social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions conducted in Turkey between 1997 and 2021. The results were discussed under three categories: social-emotional skills, externalizing problems, and internalizing problems. The effects of the interventions were investigated in terms of eight moderator variables: intervention format, types of measurement, experimental design, educational level, average age, percentage of females, number of sessions, and duration of sessions. The findings showed that SEL interventions in Turkey improved students’ social-emotional skills [ES(SE) = 0.81(.10), 95% CI (0.60 - 1.03)] and significantly reduced their externalizing [ES(SE) = 0.78(.18), 95% CI (0.41 - 1.14)] and internalizing problems [ES(SE) = 0.95(.19), 95% CI (0.57 - 1.32)].

A Systematic Review of Student Disability and Race Representation in Universal School-Based Social and Emotional Learning Interventions for Elementary School Students

The authors present a systematic review of elementary school universal school-based (USB) social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions from 2008 through 2020 for two groups of minoritized students in education research and practice: students with disabilities and/or minoritized racial identities. Completed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standards, in this review the authors identified 269 studies for inclusion, which reflected 107 USB SEL interventions. Eleven studies explicitly excluded students with disabilities. Studies varied widely in how disability and racial identity were categorized within and across studies and provided limited evidence of effectiveness through the use of subgroup analyses to support meaningful assessment of how students with disabilities and racially minoritized elementary school age students are benefiting from USB SEL interventions. The authors discuss the limitations of findings, education research best practices, and the minimum reporting standards necessary to ensure ability and racially minoritized youth representation in future USB SEL research.

Social-emotional learning and class climate among elementary-aged students in Japan

ABSTRACT This quasi-experimental, mixed methods study explored student perceptions of class climate before and after implementation of a two-week social and emotional learning (SEL) intervention in elementary classrooms in Japan. The sample consisted of 131 second and third grade students. A one-time SEL lesson focusing on offering kind words to peers was implemented in three classrooms. This was followed by two weeks of reinforcement, in which students were reinforced each time they offered kind words to a peer. One classroom used a sticker chart as the reinforcement and two classrooms filled up a jar with fuzzy balls. One classroom served as the control. Pre and post surveys were administered to students at the beginning and end of the intervention and teachers completed a survey at the end of the intervention. One-way ANOVA, t-test, and qualitative analyses revealed a significant improvement in class climate, in particular, sense of classroom orderliness, for the classrooms that used fuzzy balls as the reinforcement. Teacher feedback on the implementation of the SEL intervention included both positive and constructive reflections. These results may be considered for the development of SEL curricula to enhance its utility and effectiveness for East Asian student populations.

Implementation of a Brief Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Group in High Schools for At-Risk Youth: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

BackgroundAdolescence is a developmental period marked by engagement in risk-taking behaviors, especially among impulsive or emotionally dysregulated youth. Thus, interventions that teach skills to reduce the risk of negative outcomes associated with emotional dysregulation are required. Social and emotional learning (SEL) programs have been developed to address both adolescent emotional dysregulation and risk-taking behaviors; however, current programs have mostly been implemented among younger youth and are used as a tier 1 universal intervention rather than a targeted tier 2 intervention for youth identified with emotional regulation difficulties.ObjectiveThis study aimed to address the need for SEL programming that can be delivered in schools, particularly for older youth who have difficulties with emotional or behavioral dysregulation, to reduce the risk of health-risk behaviors among this population.MethodsHere, we outline the implementation of an SEL intervention titled Going 4 Goals, a 9-session adaptation of the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) program delivered to at-risk high school students in a school setting. The primary objectives of the study are to test whether participating in the skills group intervention produces significant increases in the core DBT-A skills of mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, while also producing significant decreases in substance use and risky behaviors. These primary outcomes are based on changes in participant scores between baseline and after the intervention and follow-ups at 1, 3, and 6 months compared with a control group of youth participating in the school’s health curriculum at the same time points. Qualitative interviews will also be conducted with intervention participants and school staff to examine acceptability and facilitators of and barriers to the intervention.ResultsA total of 171 participants across 13 groups had been enrolled in the intervention, with data collection ending December 2021. Data analysis will begin in the spring of 2022, with expected results to be published in the spring of 2023.ConclusionsThis paper describes the protocol of the 9-session school-based adaptation of the DBT-A intervention and discusses the strengths and limitations of the study and future directions.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/32490

What does the social and emotional learning interventions (SEL) tell us? A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis study aimed to examine the effects of 51 social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions conducted in Turkey between 1997 and 2021. The results were discussed under three categories: social-emotional skills, externalizing problems, and internalizing problems. The effects of the interventions were investigated in terms of eight moderator variables: intervention format, types of measurement, experimental design, educational level, average age, percentage of females, number of sessions, and duration of sessions. The findings showed that SEL interventions in Turkey improved students’ social-emotional skills [ES(SE) = 0.81(.10), 95% CI (0.60 - 1.03)] and significantly reduced their externalizing [ES(SE) = 0.78(.18), 95% CI (0.41 - 1.14)] and internalizing problems [ES(SE) = 0.95(.19), 95% CI (0.57 - 1.32)].

Content Analysis of the CASEL Framework Using K–12 State SEL Standards

Social and emotional learning (SEL) has been increasingly emphasized in educational research and practice for promoting children’s wellbeing. Perhaps the most well-known SEL framework is the model provided by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). This framework has become the dominant framework informing state SEL standards, which guide educators’ SEL related practice. Yet, the content of these standards has not been formally examined for alignment with the CASEL framework. The purpose of this exploratory study was to evaluate the content of CASEL-based state standards to explore how the CASEL framework is translated into school-based practice and to understand what SEL skills are valued by states. Using text mining and network analysis, we identified SEL standard content that was consistent across nine states and examined relationships within and across CASEL domains. Implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed. Impact Statement Social and emotional learning (SEL) practices have grown in prominence and utility in schools across grade levels. The CASEL framework is commonly used to inform SEL intervention, assessment, and, more recently, state standards. We evaluated the content of SEL state standards created using the CASEL framework to explore how states have implemented CASEL’s model. We describe how states’ interpretations of CASEL domains may inform further scientific grounding of SEL-focused research, policy, and practice.

Improving Social-Emotional Health: Expansion of Teacher and Student Wellbeing during the COVID-19 Crisis in Honduras

The Honduran education system was caught off guard when COVID-19 struck the country. With effectively no training or preparation and very few resources, educators across the country began providing distance learning classes in mid-March 2020. Overnight, educators faced significant obstacles in their quest to keep young people studying—teaching classes to students they could not see and engaging young people who lacked technology. Teachers and students began to experience social-emotional problems. This field note describes how the United States Agency for International Development's Asegurando la Educación project transitioned in-person social and emotional learning (SEL) activities in 135 schools to provide virtual SEL support to hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries across the county. We outline the SEL interventions that contributed to the lowest national dropout rate in five years, and enrollment rates in Asegurando's 135 schools some 5 percent higher than the national average. Finally, we believe this field note will contribute to the evidence base for how SEL can improve mental health and school retention during future crises.

Social and emotional learning in primary schools: A review of the current state of evidence.

BackgroundThere is a plethora of reviews that summarize much of the evidence base in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). However, there are criticisms around variability of quality and focus of those reviews, meaning there is little strategic overview of the current state of the field. Further, there are rising concerns as to systemic gaps in the evidence base itself. An overview of reviews provides an opportunity for a comprehensive classification and corresponding critique of evidence.AimsThe study sought to examine a‐priori concerns regarding (1) variation in the rigour and quality of the meta‐analytic and systematic evidence base, (2) comparatively less conclusive evidence for whole school approaches when compared to class‐based curricula, and (3) an assumed universality of effect (i.e., lack of examination of any differential gains for sub‐groups).Method and resultsA systematic search of the systematic and meta‐analytic literature identified a total of 33 reviews examining SEL interventions. Papers were subject to a quality assessment in order to examine methodological rigour and were collated in line with the study’s objectives.ConclusionsWe maintain the prevailing consensus that SEL programmes have an important role in education. However, variation in evidence quality remains high and there appear ambiguities regarding what constitutes whole school approaches. The review also highlights a novel and concerning lack of data for differentiating any subgroup effects. The review concludes with recommended novel directions for future research, including adoption of more complex trial architecture in evaluation alongside a move towards a wider plurality in methodological approach.

Social and Emotional Learning in Preschool Settings: A Systematic Map of Systematic Reviews

The preschool years presents an important opportunity to support children’s social and emotional development. Social and emotional learning (SEL) programs in early childhood education and care (ECEC) have gained an increased interest due to its potential to improve child health and educational outcomes. We aimed to identify existing systematic reviews on universal, curriculum-based SEL interventions in ECEC settings (children aged 0 to 7 years), assess their risk of bias, synthesize the findings and identify knowledge gaps. We undertook a systematic literature search in seven different databases. Reviews of studies without control groups were excluded. Each abstract and full text article was assessed independently, and disagreements were solved in consensus. Relevant reviews were assessed for bias using the ROBIS tool. Of 4912 records identified through database searches, two systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. Both reviews were assessed as having a high risk of bias. The results were used to summarize existing knowledge and knowledge gaps. In conclusion, SEL interventions in preschool settings must be considered knowledge gaps. There is a need for more high-quality primary studies and further systematic reviews that adhere to strict scientific methods and address the overwhelming heterogeneity in field, in terms of interventions, settings and outcomes.

Innovations in Social and Emotional Learning Research and Practice: Building from Evidence and Applying Behavioral Insights to the Design of a Social and Emotional Learning Intervention in Northeast Nigeria.

Recent studies suggest that social and emotional learning (SEL) programming has the potential to be effective in conflict-affected regions, yet evidence is limited, and findings to date are mixed. One hypothesis about why SEL interventions in education in emergencies (EiE) settings have not generated the anticipated results is that the SEL content and materials have not been sufficiently localized to the context, leading to poor cultural relevance or fit. A second hypothesis is that SEL program demands tend to be high and capacity for implementation is low, undermining sustainability and impact. The current study addresses these challenges by investing in locally driven SEL content and design as a way to ensure that SEL materials are grounded in local values and needs, culturally appropriate, relevant to the specific context, and feasible to implement. The study draws on the developmental and prevention sciences as well as the field of behavioral insights to test evidence-based interventions intended to encourage desired behaviors around uptake and implementation. This paper documents the activities conducted during the project’s design phase, including landscape research, creation of initial prototypes, design workshops and rapid prototyping, and field testing. Findings suggest that using local values, practices, and framing in SEL programming increases relevance and appropriateness for the Northeast Nigeria setting. Furthermore, targeted behavioral insights interventions increased the uptake, habitual and regular use, as well as correct implementation of SEL activities. The findings contribute to the emerging literature on the cultural variability of SEL and the need to consider the context when designing and implementing programs in any setting.

A Meta-analysis of the Impact of Social and Emotional Learning Interventions on Teachers’ Burnout Symptoms

Over the last decades, extensive research has given considerable attention to teachers’ burnout. Owing to its negative personal, organizational, and social impacts (e.g., mental ill health, decreased work performance, turnover), intervention and prevention efforts have consequently been employed to minimize the effects of this phenomenon/syndrome. As teaching-specific stressors are mainly related to the socio-emotional domain, interventions targeting social and emotional learning (SEL) for teachers have been seen to increase in recent years. A meta-analysis of 13 empirical studies was conducted to investigate the effects of SEL interventions on teachers’ burnout. Results showed a statistically significant medium effect size favoring the experimental group regarding the impact of SEL on emotional exhaustion (g = − 0.37, 95% CI [− 0.70, − 0.03]) and personal accomplishment (g = 0.45, 95% CI [0.12, 0.79]). Impacts on depersonalization (g =− 0.51, 95% CI [− 1.13, 0.11]) were found to be not statistically significant. Meta regression analyses found narrower confidence intervals for interventions carried out over 3 months and tailored to the precise needs of class-level teachers for personal accomplishment. The findings add to the growing empirical evidence of the contribution of SEL interventions to improving teachers’ personal accomplishment, identified in prior literature as a mitigating factor of teacher burnout syndrome and diminishing their emotional exhaustion, thus sustaining the importance of promoting SEL within teacher training. As for their practical and methodological implications, the results contribute to understanding the role of the specific features of SEL interventions, and also important features of research design and methodological constraints, which may impact the effectiveness of these interventions.