Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology
VOL 15 NO 2 JUNE 2026

The Role of Social-Emotional Skills in Promoting Subjective Well-Being Among Primary School Children: A Systematic Literature Review

Intan Baiduri (Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Indonesia)
Farida Kurniawati (Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Indonesia)
Tjut Rifameutia (Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 May 2026

Abstract

This systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence on the relationship between social-emotional functioning and subjective well-being (SWB) among primary school–aged children. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search across six databases identified three eligible quantitative studies. The findings indicate a consistent but preliminary positive association between social-emotional functioning and children’s well-being. Constructs such as emotional intelligence, social-emotional learning, and participation in organized activities were linked to dimensions of SWB, including positive affect, psychological well-being, resilience, and life satisfaction. However, the evidence base remains limited and methodologically constrained. All included studies employed cross-sectional designs and varied considerably in how social-emotional functioning was conceptualized and measured. The literature predominantly emphasizes intrapersonal competencies, while interpersonal and decision-making domains receive less attention. In addition, distinctions between individual skills and socio-contextual influences are not consistently addressed. The findings suggest that children’s well-being is shaped by multiple, interrelated pathways involving emotional competencies and social environments. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs and more coherent theoretical frameworks to better understand well-being development during middle childhood.  

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

Psychology

Publisher

Subject

Education Public Health

Description

Journal of Educational, Health, and Community Psychology (JEHCP) published an article, and empirical study that have originality, novelty and fill the gap of knowledge, that focused on educational psychology, health psychology and community psychology. JEHCP is an open access peer reviewed, ...