An exploration of normative social and emotional skill growth trajectories during adolescence

• Published in: Journal of applied developmental psychology Vol. 62; pp. 102 - 115
• Main Authors: Ross, Katherine M., Kim, Helyn, Tolan, Patrick H., Jennings, Patricia A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Norwood Elsevier Inc 01-05-2019; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent development; Adolescents; Child development; Decision making; Developmental psychology; Emotional development; Gender differences; Growth trajectories; Interpersonal relations; Quality; Selfawareness; Selfmanagement; Skills; Social and emotional learning; Social development; Tracking; Growth trajectories; Gender differences; Social and emotional learning; Adolescent development
• ISSN: 0193-3973; 1873-7900
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2019.02.006

Empirical evidence supports the importance of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) skills in school and life success. However, no study to date has documented growth trajectories of these critical skills during adolescence. This study examines longitudinal growth trajectories of self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, and relationship skills (creating relationships and relationship quality) using data from the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development, a diverse sample of over 1500 United States youth beginning at age 10 and following them to age 18. Findings suggest that during adolescence (1) SEL component skills follow differing, often nonlinear trajectories and (2) these trajectories differ for males and females. This tracking can inform a foundational understanding of adolescent social and emotional development and highlights the need for more attention to normative growth patterns and variation by skill to inform future studies and interventions.
•Social and emotional skills follow a nonlinear growth pattern during adolescence.•Component skills each follow a different growth trajectory (from each other).•Component skills follow a different growth trajectory from a composite scaling.•Growth trajectories differ between males and females during adolescence.