Title
Effects of an SEL Program in a Diverse Population of Low Achieving Secondary Education Students
Author
van de Sande, M.C.
Fekkes, M.
Diekstra, R.F.
Gravesteijn, C.
Reis, R.
Kocken, P.L.
Publication year
2022
Abstract
Adolescents’ social-emotional skills are associated with positive outcomes in psychosocial health and success in education and work. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of Skills4Life, a Social Emotional Learning program for preparatory vocational secondary education aimed at enhancing self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. Low-achieving students with additional educational needs participated in a quasi-experimental study, with an intervention (N = 465) and a control group (N = 274). We assessed the outcomes on social-emotional skills and psychosocial health using self-report questionnaires at pre-test (T0), after finishing the basic module (T1), and after finishing the internship module (T2). Multi-level regression analyses indicated no overall effects on the outcomes at T1 and T2. After completing the entire program at T2, students from non-western backgrounds had significantly unfavorable lower scores on social awareness and relationship skills. Positive effects were found on self-management and preparation for internships in students taught by experienced professional trainers compared to students taught by regular classroom teachers at T2. Alterations in the socio-cultural approach of the Skills4Life program and teacher training are needed to support all students in developing the social-emotional skills that they need for success at school and the workplace. Copyright © 2022 Van De Sande, Fekkes, Diekstra, Gravesteijn, Reis and Kocken.
Subject
Additional educational needs
Adolescents
Ethnic diversity
SEL programs
Social-emotional skills
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:9b87e880-61f3-44dd-bde8-f1b470a6c7ab
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.744388
TNO identifier
967546
Source
Frontiers in Education, 6 (6)
Document type
article