Students' Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties: The Impact of Teachers' Social-Emotional Learning and Teacher–Student Relationships

• In Event: 33.035 - Challenging Deficit Views of Students

Abstract

The study investigated how teachers’ perceptions of Emotional Intelligence (EI), Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) competences and teacher-student relationships influenced students’ emotional and behavioral difficulties, according to teachers’ and students’ perceptions. Ninety-eight Greek elementary teachers completed the Self-Rated Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Teacher SEL Beliefs Scale, the Student-Teacher Relationships Scale and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, for 617 of their students, aged 6-11 years old. Subsequently, 308 students completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that teachers’ perceptions of EI and SEL competences were not associated with students’ emotional and behavioral difficulties. Rather, conflict in teacher-student relationships was a robust contributor to these difficulties. Findings and implications for research and practice are discussed.

Author

• Maria S. Poulou, University of Patras