Evaluating the Efficacy of the Well-Being Program on Elementary Students’ Outcomes

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 10:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Diverse Primary School Perspectives: Educator and Student SEL (Table 1)

Abstract

We conducted a randomized study to evaluate the efficacy of the Well Being Program, a new social and emotional learning (SEL) program that integrates positive youth development, service learning, and SEL to promote students’ social and emotional competence, positive mental health, and positive human qualities. This is the first study evaluating this new program. Twelve classrooms of 4th and 5th grade students (N = 256) were randomly assigned to either receive the Well Being Program or serve as Business as Usual (BAU) wait-list controls. Relative to controls, students who received the Well Being Program demonstrated significant improvements in optimism, self-regulation, and gratitude. Results suggest this SEL program is promising in promoting students’ positive outcomes. Directions for future research are discussed.

Authors

• M. Jennifer Kitil, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Kimberly A. Schonert-Reichl, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Jenna Whitehead, Greater Good in Education