Supporting Student Social Emotional Learning and Development

Abstract

In recent years, school psychology has increasingly recognized the importance of social-emotional health in achieving youth positive outcomes. Social-emotional skills, such as empathy, self-awareness, and responsible decision-making, are crucial for long-term academic and personal success. To help educators and school psychologists assess and promote students’ social-emotional health, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of this topic. This special section focuses on the significance of social-emotional skills and previous research on social-emotional learning (SEL) and their contributions and remaining questions. It includes seven contemporary articles on SEL-related school practices to enhance our understanding and suggest future directions for research and practice. Impact Statement This paper discusses the theoretical and empirical foundations for social-emotional learning (SEL) and its significance on youth positive development. It also summarizes the scholarship included in this special topic section highlighting areas of opportunity to improve SEL research and practice for school-aged children and adolescents.