Assessment of Executive Functioning and Social Emotional Learning among Adolescents

Abstract

Executive functions form a foundation for self-regulation and help adolescents build social-emotional skills, which help them manage their thoughts, behavior, and emotions and help prepare for a better transition to learning. The purpose of study was to assess the executive functioning skills and social emotional learning among adolescents. The cross-sectional study was conducted with a total 240 adolescents with a mean age of 15 ± 2.23 years, of whom 54% (130) were female and 46% (110) were male and participants completed socio-demographic form, behavior rating inventory for executive functioning and Social Emotional Learning Scale. The main findings were that female students were found to have greater social awareness skills (Mean ± SD, 15 ± 2.01) and male students were found to have greater responsible decision-making skills (Mean ± SD, 19 ± 2.28). A statistically significant positive correlation was found for shift (r=0.159), emotional control (r= 0.187) and working memory (r=0.118) of executive functioning skills with social emotional learning. The findings of the study showed that there is a relationship of the executive functioning skills and social emotional learning in adolescents, especially in relation to shift, emotional control and working memory of the executive functioning skills and social emotional learning among adolescents. Adolescents who have better executive functioning skills may acquire knowledge easily, perform better academic performance and attitudes to achieve personal goals.

Keywords

• executive functions
• social emotional learning
• adolescents
• education