Teaching socio-emotional skills to elementary school students is an urgent challenge: a systematic review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33595/2226-1478.16.4.1461

Keywords:

self-regulated learning, coexistence, empathy, social skills

Abstract

The holistic development of the individual is a fundamental pillar of social-emotional skills (SES) education, as it contributes to personal and collective well-being. The objective of this article was to analyze the current research literature on the application of programs, interventions, and assessments of SES in basic education students at the preschool, primary, and secondary levels. This systematic review, with a qualitative approach, used the PRISMA protocol, selecting 33 articles published between 2021 and 2025 from the Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, and SciELO databases. The results show that a positive school environment is fostered when students develop interpersonal skills, empathy, and emotion regulation. Furthermore, two main approaches to teaching SES in schools have emerged. The first, and most common, involves programs and workshops independent of classroom curriculum planning. The second, innovative approach consists of integrating SES into curricular areas through learning sessions. The importance of this review is to systematize the programs, measurements and interventions applied in educational contexts impacting the socio-emotional learning of basic education students.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aguilar, C., Farías, B., Fuentes, M., Miranda, P., & Pérez, M. (2023). Bienestar socioemocional en contexto de pandemia y virtualidad: una aproximación a padres, madres, profesorado y estudiantado de educación primaria en Chile. Revista Educación. https://doi.org/10.15517/revedu.v47i1.52029

Álamo, M., & Llorent, V. J. (2024). Bullying, cyberbullying, emotional intelligence and socioemotional competences as predictors of social self-concept in adolescents. Revista Complutense de Educacion, 35(4), 887–897. https://doi.org/10.5209/rced.90342

Amaral, P., Fronteira, I., Tomé, G., Amaral, R., & Pereira, T. (2024). Integração da Educação Socioemocional no Ensino Português: Opinião e Perceção dos Agentes Educativos. Sisyphus, 12, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.25749/sis.33528

Aragundi, P., & Vélez, C. (2021). Las neuronas espejo en el aprendizaje virtual en los estudiantes de básica superior. Revista Innova Educación, 3(4)(4), 99–109. https://doi.org/10.35622/j.rie.2021.04.007

Askia, B. (2024). Educación Socioemocional en la enseñanza primaria: un análisis práctico de la experiencia. RIDE Revista Iberoamericana Para La Investigación y El Desarrollo Educativo, 15(29), e757. https://doi.org/10.23913/ride.v15i29.2141

Ávila, J. T. R., & López-Rodríguez, N. M. (2024). Socio-emotional skills and cognitive processes in migrant children. Educar, 60(1), 217–235. https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/educar.1898

Avivar-Cáceres, S., Prado-Gascó, V., & Parra-Camacho, D. (2022). Effectiveness of the FHaCE Up! Program on School Violence, School Climate, Conflict Management Styles, and Socio-Emotional Skills on Secondary School Students. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(24), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142417013

Bandura, A., & Walters, R. H. (1974). Aprendizaje social y desarrollo de la personalidad (Alianza Editorial, Ed.). http://www.soyanalistaconductual.org/aprendizaje_social_desarrollo_de_la_personaliad_albert_bandura_richard_h_walters.pdf

Barrios, K. V., Orozco, D. M., Pérez, E. C., & Conde, G. (2021). Nuevas recomendaciones de la versión PRISMA 2020 para revisiones sistemáticas y metaanálisis. Acta Neurológica Colombiana, 37(2), 105–106. https://doi.org/10.22379/24224022373

CASEL. (2020). Marco de SEL de CASEL. https://casel.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/CASEL-Wheel-Spanish.pdf

Cavaletto, G. M., & Miglietta, A. (2024). Cooperative and competitive learning as transformative factors of educational processes for extracurricular skill enhancement. Frontiers in Education, 9, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1388937

Esparza, C., Lueiza, D., & Canales, R. (2023). Ludicidad, aprendizaje y desarrollo socioemocional: una mirada en la primera infancia. Revista de Estudios y Experiencias En Educación, 22(49), 85–102. https://doi.org/10.21703/rexe.v22i49.1545

Espinoza, V., Rosas, R., Schmidt, B., & Saravia, J. (2022). Implementation of a program to promote socioemotional skills development at school. Estudios Pedagogicos, 48(3), 151–162. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-07052022000300151

Fernández, P., & Extremera, N. (2005). La Inteligencia Emocional y la educación de las emociones desde el Modelo de Mayer y Salovey. Revista Interuniversitaria de Formación Del Profesorado, 19, 63–93. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/274/27411927005.pdf

Ferreira, A., Haas, J., & Morais, E. (2021). Socioemotional and cognitive skills: Its relation to school performance in elementary school. Paideia, 31. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-4327e3137

Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia–Unicef. (2024). Educación en crisis_ cómo impacta en el aprendizaje de los niños _ UNICEF. https://www.unicef.es/noticia/educacion-en-crisis-como-impacta-en-el-aprendizaje-de-los-ninos

Francisco, R., Raposo, B., Hormigo, M., Sesifredo, M., Carvalho, A., Justo, A., & Godinho, C. A. (2023). #EntreViagenseAprendizagens: study protocol of a school-based intervention to promote well-being and healthy lifestyles among adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1213293

Goleman, D. (1995). La inteligencia emocional Por qué es mas importante que el coeficiente intelectual (Bantam Books, Ed.). https://iuymca.edu.ar/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/La-Inteligencia-Emocional-Daniel-Goleman-1.pdf

Guamán, Y. E. E., Godoy, M. F. M., Arroyo, M. Y. C., Maldonado, M. A. C., Maldonado, M. del R., Jungal, C. L. T., Campoverde, F. E. V., & Herrera, D. C. L. (2025). El papel de la neuroeducación en la mejora del rendimiento académico y el bienestar emocional de los estudiantes. Revisión sistemática. South Florida Journal of Development, 6(4), e5180. https://doi.org/10.46932/sfjdv6n4-043

Herman, B., & Collins, B. (2018). Competencias del aprendizaje social y emocional. https://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/mental-health/social-emotional-learning

Linares, E. T., Santín Vilariño, C., Villas, A., Menéndez Álvarez-Dardet, S., & López López, M. J. (2002). El modelo ecológico de Bronfrenbrenner como marco teórico de la Psicooncología. Anales de Psicología, 18(1), 45–59. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/167/16718103.pdf

López, C., Lagos, N., & Zagal, E. (2022). Micropolítica escolar y aprendizaje socioemocional como catalizadores de la cohesión social. Foro de Educacion, 20(1), 335–350. https://doi.org/10.14516/FDE.886

Maoulida, H., Madhukar, M., & Celume, M. P. (2023). A Case Study of 21st Century Cognitive, Social and Emotional Competencies Using Online-Learning. Journal of Intelligence, 11(6), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11060116

Meroni, E. C., Piazzalunga, D., & Pronzato, C. (2022). Allocation of time and child socio-emotional skills. Review of Economics of the Household, 20(4), 1155–1192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11150-021-09580-9

Ministerio de Educación–Minedu). (2023). SERHabilidades socioemocionales de los estudiantes de 2.° grado de secundaria y sus factores contextuales. Aproximaciones desde el Estudio Virtual de Aprendizajes 2021. http://umc.minedu.gob.pe/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Habilidades-socioemocionales-de-los-estudiantes-de-2.%C2%B0-grado-de-secundaria-y-sus-factores-contextuales.-Aproximaciones-desde-el-Estudio-Virtual-de-Aprendizajes-2021.pdf

Mittmann, G., Barnard, A., Zehetmayer, S., Wimmer, S., Zehetner, V., Doerfler, S., Woodcock, K., & Schrank, B. (2024). A Serious Game for Emotion Regulation in Adolescents: Player Experience and Pilot Feasibility Study. International Journal of Game-Based Learning, 14(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJGBL.358940

Núñez, C. I. G., Morales, S. B., Verdú, C., & Gómez-Mármol, A. (2024). Unlocking abilities: enhancing executive skills through play and movement in preschool physical education. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 24(1), 165–171. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2024.01021

Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la C. y la C.-U. (2024). La UNESCO publica un informe sobre las habilidades socioemocionales en salas de clases de América Latina y el Caribe. https://www.unesco.org/es/articles/la-unesco-publica-un-informe-sobre-las-habilidades-socioemocionales-en-salas-de-clases-de-america

Ortiz, J., & Hernández, Y. (2024). Desarrollo socioemocional y sus afectaciones durante la pandemia en familias de instituciones educativas colombianas. Revista Iberoamericana de Educación, 95(1), 185–195. https://doi.org/10.35362/rie9516043

Phillips, E., Jarden, A., & Bowles, T. (2024). A study of virtual reality and the empathetic experience in Australian secondary students. Australian Educational Researcher, 52, 159–183. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-024-00708-1

Prieto, M. D., Ferrando, M., & Ferrándiz, C. (2021). Creatividad. Inteligencia emocional. Implicaciones educativas. Educar Em Revista, 37. https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-4060.81541

Ramos, T., Marques, L., Triani, F., Getirana-Mota, M., Lopes, J., Aidar, F., & Gomes, L. (2022). Atividades corporais de aventura na escola: a corrida de orientação como proposta no desenvolvimento das competências socioemocionais competencias socioemocionais. Educación Física y Ciencia, 24(2), e216. https://doi.org/10.24215/23142561e216

Ríos, A., & Cabrerizo, P. (2023). Habilidades Socioemocionales para la Escuela Rural del Perú: Aportes Empíricos basados en enfoques Emic y Etic. Revista Peruana de Investigación Educativa, 14(17), 71–100. https://doi.org/10.34236/rpie.v14i17.418

Rodrigues, K., Lisboa, T., & Campelo, M. (2022). The relationship between cognitive development, behavior indicators, and Personal, Social, and Emotional Development in Pre-school*. Ensaio, 30(115), 414–437. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-403620220003003358

Salas, N., Alcaide, M., & Hue, C. (2022). Improving socio-emotional competencies in preschool pupils through emotional education. Revista Española de Pedagogía, 80(283), 517–532. https://doi.org/10.22550/REP80-3-2022-05

Sánchez, L., Morales, A. J., & Santana, D. (2021). Agenda 2030 y representación socioemocional del medio ambiente en la Educación Primaria. Didáctica de Las Ciencias Experimentales y Sociales, 41, 73–88. https://doi.org/10.7203/DCES.41.19413

Santamaría-Villar, M. B., Gilar-Corbi, R., Pozo-Rico, T., & Castejón, J. L. (2021). Teaching Socio-Emotional Competencies Among Primary School Students: Improving Conflict Resolution and Promoting Democratic Co-existence in Schools. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.659348

Sharma-Brymer, V., Brymer, E., Willis, R., & Leach, M. (2024). Synergies of affordances and place-based relationality in Forest School practice: implications for socio-emotional well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1352374

Soria-Aldavero, E., Martínez-Huertas, J., Rodríguez-Navarro, H., & García-Celay, I. (2023). Adaptación de una escala de Habilidades Socioemocionales para profesorado de Educación Infantil, Primaria y Secundaria. Revista Electronica Interuniversitaria de Formacion Del Profesorado, 26(2), 87–101. https://doi.org/10.6018/reifop.558931

Suárez, X., & Castro, N. (2022). Competencias socioemocionales y resiliencia de estudiantes de escuelas vulnerables y su relación con el rendimiento académico. Revista de Psicologia (Peru), 40(2), 879–904. https://doi.org/10.18800/psico.202202.009

Teques, A. P., de Oliveira, R. F., Bednarikova, M., Bertollo, M., Botwina, G., Khomutova, A., Turam, H. E., Dinç, İ., López-Flores, M., & Teques, P. (2024). Social and Emotional Skills in at-Risk Adolescents through Participation in Sports. Sports, 12(7), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12070181

Valencia, L. A., & Flórez, L. J. (2024). Las Habilidades Socioemocionales en los Entornos de la Escuela. Ciencia Latina Revista Científica Multidisciplinar, 8(1), 7927–7945. https://doi.org/10.37811/cl_rcm.v8i1.10115

Valentini, F., de Barros, L., Carvalho, G., da Silva, J., Valdece, R., Mendes, L., da Conceicao, A., Botinhon, L., Primi, R., & Wells, C. (2024). Inventory of Supporting for Socio-Emotional Skills–Forced-Choice Version. Paideia, 34, e3408. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-4327e3408

Vargas, M., Ruiz, G., & Garro-Aburto, L. (2023). Habilidades blandas para la empleabilidad en jóvenes de Educación Básica Alternativa. Horizontes, 2287–2295. https://revistahorizontes.org/index.php/revistahorizontes/article/view/1210

Vera, A., Cerda, G., Aragón, E., & Pérez, C. (2021). Rendimiento académico y su relación con variables socioemocionales en estudiantes Chilenos de contextos vulnerables. Educacion XX1, 24(2), 375–398. https://doi.org/10.5944/educxx1.28269

Wilke, J., & Goagoses, N. (2023). Morality in middle childhood: the role of callous-unemotional traits and emotion regulation skills. BMC Psychology, 11(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01328-7

Downloads

Published

2025-12-31

Issue

Section

Artículo de Revisión

How to Cite

Gamarra Vásquez, J. E., & Pérez Azahuanche, M. A. (2025). Teaching socio-emotional skills to elementary school students is an urgent challenge: a systematic review. Comuni@cción: Journal of Research in Communication and Development, 16(4), 298-309. https://doi.org/10.33595/2226-1478.16.4.1461

Similar Articles

1-10 of 173

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.