WORLD (Enmaeya News) - November 6, 2025

A new study has found that teaching students how to manage their emotions and build social skills can also help them do better in school.

The research, published in the Review of Educational Research, analyzed 40 studies involving almost 34,000 students from 12 countries. It showed that students who took part in social-emotional learning (SEL) programs scored higher in reading and math than those who did not.

On average, students in SEL programs scored 4 to 8 percentile points higher. Reading scores improved by about 6 points, while math scores rose by nearly 4 points. The biggest gains were seen when programs lasted longer than a semester and were offered to all students, not just a select group.

Lead researcher Christina Cipriano, from the Yale Child Study Center, said that when children learn how to manage emotions and build healthy relationships, they become more focused and ready to learn. “When students can handle their feelings in positive ways, they are more available to learn,” she said.

The study also found that SEL helps reduce stress and improve classroom behavior, creating better learning environments.

While most studies focused on elementary schools, researchers said more work is needed to understand the impact of SEL in middle and high schools.

The findings come as many schools look for ways to recover from learning losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts say this study is a reminder that emotional well-being and academic success go hand in hand.