SOCIO-EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES ACROSS ADULTHOOD: STABILITY, CHANGES, AND THEIR ROLE ON WELLBEING DIMENSIONS

Social and emotional learning is an integral part of human education and development and is the process through which everyone, children, and adults develop the skills, attitudes, and values necessary to acquire social and emotional competence. The main objective of the study was to observe how the different stages of adult life are characterized by social and emotional skills. A second goal was to understand the relationships held between Social and Emotional competencies (SECs), well-being experienced, and future time perspective. A total of 212 adults living in Northeast Italy were surveyed for their Socioemotional skills, future time perspective, and well-being. According to their age, three groups were identified, including young adults, adults, and middle adults. Results confirm the specificity of SECs across adult development. Regression-based mediation models evidence the role of SECs as mediators in the relationship between future time perspective and psychological well-being. Social and Emotional Learning(SEL) reveal as an integral part of adult education and lifelong learning and a guide in prevention and support actions.