Margarita Panayiotou|Neil Humphrey|Michael Wigelsworth
An empirical basis for linking social and emotional learning to academic performance
University of Manchester|University of Manchester|University of Manchester
general agreement benefits schoolbased social emotional learning sel interventions relation children young peoples socialemotional competence mental health academic achievement however know little theorized mechanisms sel leads improved academic outcomes current study first present integrative model derived sel logic model using 3wave annual assessment t1 t2 t3 longitudinal sample 1626 51 boys n 832 912yearold students 917 sd 31 baseline attending 45 elementary schools england drawn major randomized trial universal sel intervention promoting alternative thinking strategies curriculum paths using structural equation modeling accounted withintime covariance data clustering gender prior academic attainment examined temporal relations socialemotional competence t1 school connectedness t2 mental health difficulties t2 academic attainment t3 hypothesized socialemotional competence would directly indirectly influence academic attainment school connectedness mental health difficulties analyses also examined whether hypothesized relations varied function intervention exposure paths versus usual provision theorized model partially supported socialemotional competence t1 exerted significant influence school connectedness mental health difficulties t2 however latter significant predictor mediator academic attainment t3 controlling gender prior academic performance students greater socialemotional competence t1 reported experience fewer mental health difficulties t2 turn predicted higher academic attainment t3 intervention exposure markedly influence magnitude statistical significance identified pathways collectively findings indicate possible revisions current understanding regarding role socialemotional competence promoting academic attainment contribution appears lay primarily buffering adverse effects mental health difficulties