Learning to Thrive: Integrating Social Emotional Learning Across the Diverse Educational Context

Dear Colleagues,

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is a comprehensive educational approach that helps students and teachers develop crucial social and emotional skills. It is a well-established framework that connects the classroom, home, and community to support the psychosocial well-being and personal growth of everyone involved. Its core competencies—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making—are applicable in almost any setting where human interaction and personal growth are important. Although Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) frameworks have been shown to be effective in a variety of personal, educational, and professional settings, there are still significant research gaps. Specifically, more studies are needed that examine the application and outcomes of SEL in the Global South and developing countries; investigate whether SEL programs are equally effective across diverse sociocultural subgroups of students, teachers, professionals, families and communities; provide comparative insights into the specific approaches and mechanisms of SEL, rather than just the overall effects of entire programs; assess the financial costs and long-term effects of SEL programs in both school and after-school settings; focus on the use of SEL in anti-bullying programs for vulnerable groups, such as people with special needs or ethnic minorities, etc. One of the aims of this research topic is to address these gaps by encouraging studies that advance our understanding of the implementation and impact of SEL in these under-researched areas.

This research topic aims to advance the field of social-emotional learning (SEL) by focusing on several key areas. We are looking for studies in the following areas, among others:

• Evidence-based strategies for implementing effective SEL programs in diverse educational contexts.
• Explore how SEL can improve school and educational climate and promote the holistic growth of students and educators
• Examine the impact of SEL on the psychosocial well-being and personal and professional development of everyone involved in academia.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration to understand the long-term effects of SEL.
• Contribute to theoretical knowledge, including new SEL models, measurement tools, and solutions for implementation challenges.

We welcome a diverse range of articles, including empirical research articles utilizing qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods research methodologies. Submissions may include cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, action research, case studies, policy analyses and other types of research. We also welcome review articles and meta-analyses. The ultimate goal is to deepen our understanding of SEL and its practical applications in personal, education and professional contexts with the aim of creating more positive and sustainable environments.

Abstract Deadline: 31 January 2026
Notification of Abstract Acceptance: 15 February 2026

Prof. Dr. Gino Casale
Dr. Sohni Siddiqui
Guest Editors

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• social and emotional learning in diverse contexts
• evidence-based SEL programs
• mental well-being and growth of students, families and professionals
• SEL in sustainable school and workplace environments
• long-terms effects of SEL
• SEL implementation challenges and barriers
• new models and measurements for SEL components