Relationship between socioemotional skills and social cognitive processes in Primary School students: A systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66615/04csmq67Palabras clave:
Socio-emotional competencies, social cognitive processes, Elementary School, systematic reviewResumen
This systematic review aimed to analyze and synthesize research published during the last decade (2015-2025) on the relationship between socioemotional and sociocognitive aspects in Primary Education students. Following PRISMA guidelines, a thematic analysis was carried out to examine the scientific production published between 2015 and 2025 in the Dialnet, Scopus and ScienceDirect databases. From a total of 1,592 initial records, 21 articles were selected that met the following inclusion criteria: articles published in English or Spanish, articles in which socio-emotional and socio-cognitive aspects are related, articles that work with the Primary School child population, and articles developed in the educational context. The exclusion criteria were: articles not related to the topic, articles that consider other age groups (adolescents, adults, older people), articles that evaluate people with disabilities or mental disorders, and non-original articles. The results of this review revealed a predominance of studies carried out in Europe (mainly Spain and Italy) and a growing publication trend in the last five years (2021-2025). The most studied socioemotional variables were self-regulation and empathy, which showed significant links established through evaluation before and after pedagogical interventions and identification of statistical correlations, mostly, with sociocognitive processes such as cooperation and problem solving.
Descargas
Referencias
Balluerka, N., Aliri, J., Goñi-Balentziaga, O., & Gorostiaga, A. (2023). Association between bullying victimization, anxiety and depression in Childhood and Adolescence: The Mediating effect of self-esteem. Revista de Psicodidáctica, 28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psicod.2022.10.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psicoe.2022.11.001
Brauninger, I., & Roosli, P. (2023). Promoting social-emotional skills and reducing behavioural problems in children through group psychomotor therapy: a randomized controlled trial. The Arts In Psychotherapy, 85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2023.102051 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2023.102051
Carpendale, E., Green, M., Dix, K., Tzoumakis, S., Williams, K., White, S., Carr, V., & Laurens, K. (2025). An exploratory evaluation of universal social-emotional learning programs delivered during elementary school to Australian students. Journal Of School Psychology, 110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2025.101447 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2025.101447
Collie, R., Martin, A., Renshaw, L., & Caldecott-Davis, K. (2024). Students’ perceived social-emotional competence: the role of autonomy-support and links with well-being, social-emotional skills, and behaviors. Learning And Instruction, 90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2023.101866 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2023.101866
Corredor, G., Justicia-Arráez, A., Romero-López, M., & Benavides-Nieto, A. (2017). Longitudinal study of the Effects of social competence on Behavioral problems. Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences, 237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2017.02.093 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2017.02.093
Ding, X., McVarnock, A., Li, M., Coplan, R., Ooi, L., Yu, J., & Sang, B. (2025). Motivations for social withdrawal and socio-emotional functioning among urban/suburban Chinese children. Journal Of Applied Developmental Psychology, 98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2025.101787 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2025.101787
Domínguez-de la Ossa, E., Vázquez-Miraz, P., Fortich-Pérez, D., & Campo-Landines, K. (2024). Competencias ciudadanas contra el acoso escolar en Cartagena, Colombia. Revista Electrónica Educare, 28(3). https://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1409-42582024000300148&lang=es DOI: https://doi.org/10.15359/ree.28-3.18479
Franchino-Olsen, H., Maluleke, P., Woollett, N., Christofides, N., Thurston, C., & Meinck, F. (2025). “They should ask me so that they can help me”: Patterns of young children’s expressed feelings and beliefs when interviewed about violence and difficult experiences. Child Abuse & Neglect, 162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106932 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106932
Humphrey, N., Barlow, A., Wigelsworth, M., Lendrum, A., Pert, K., Joyce, C., Stephens, E., Wo, L., Squires, G., Woods, K., Calam, R., & Turner, A. (2016). A cluster randomized controlled trial of the Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS) curriculum. Journal Of School Psychology, 58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2016.07.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2016.07.002
Jia, Z., Willner, C., Hoffmann, J., Bailey, C., Mack, V., Brackett, M., & Cipriano, C. (2025). Development of the Student Emotion Regulation Assessment (SERA) for children and adolescents in grades 1–12. Social And Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, And Policy, 5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sel.2025.100104 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sel.2025.100104
Klemp, G., Urton, K., Krull, J., Bosch, J., & Wilbert, J. (2025). What does well-being at school mean to primary school students? Children’s understanding of basic psychological needs. International Journal Of Educational Research Open, 8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2025.100442 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2025.100442
Lagos, N., & Sandoval, I. (2021). Evaluación de la efectividad del Programa HAPPY 8-12 a partir de la medición de competencias socioemocionales en estudiantes de educación primaria. Educación, 30(59). http://www.scielo.org.pe/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1019-94032021000200113&lang=es DOI: https://doi.org/10.18800/educacion.202102.006
Mooij, B., Fekkes, M., Van Den Akker, A., Vliek, L., Scholte, R., & Overbeek, G. (2022). Does affirming children’s autonomy and prosocial intentions help? A Microtrial into intervention component effects to improve psychosocial behavior. Journal Of School Psychology, 90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2021.11.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2021.11.003
Mortari, L., Valbusa, F., & Bombieri, R. (2024). “The Nous Project”: a SEL program to promote emotional self-understanding in elementary school children. Social And Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, And Policy, 4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sel.2024.100060 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sel.2024.100060
Munevar, S., Silva, A., & Sarmiento, J. (2019). Exposición al conflicto armado y logro académico en Colombia. Desarrollo y Sociedad, 83. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0120-35842019000200013&lang=pt
Page, M., McKenzie, J., Bossuyt, P., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T., Mulrow, C., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J., Akl, E., Brennan, S., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J., Hrobjartsson, A., Lalu, M., Li, T., Loder, E., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., . . . Moher, D. (2021). Declaración PRISMA 2020: una guía actualizada para la publicación de revisiones sistemáticas. Revista Española de Cardiología, 79(9). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.recesp.2021.06.016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rec.2021.07.010
Piotrowska, P., Stride, C., Maughan, B., & Rowe, R. (2019). Mechanisms underlying social gradients in child and adolescent antisocial behaviour. SSM - Population Health, 7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2019.100353 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2019.100353
Prodan, N., Pan, X., Visu-Petra, L., Szekely-Copîndean, R., & T˘ An˘ Asescu, A. (2023). Socio-cognitive correlates of primary school children’s deceptive behavior toward peers in competitive settings. Acta Psychologica, 240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.104019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.104019
Recio, M., & Barajas, C. (2018). Teoría de la mente y empatía. Repercusiones en la aceptación por los iguales en niños y niñas de educación infantil, primaria y secundaria Universidad de Málaga. https://doi.org/10.5231/psy.writ.2018.0105 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5231/psy.writ.2018.0105
Rincón, J., & López-Rodríguez, N. (2024). Competencias socioemocionales y procesos cognitivos de niños migrantes. Educar, 60(1). https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/educar.1898 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/educar.1898
Rodríguez-Ledo, C., Orejudo Hernández, S., Celma Pastor, L., & Cardoso Moreno, M. (2019). Mejora de las competencias socioemocionales en el aula, con jóvenes de educación secundaria, mediante el programa SEA Universidad de Zaragoza. https://doi.org/10.25115/ejrep.v16i46.2241 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25115/ejrep.v16i46.2241
Sánchez-Camacho, R., & Grane, M. (2022). Instrumentos de evaluación de inteligencia emocional en educación primaria: una revisión sistemática. Revista de Psicología y Educación, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.23923/rpye2022.01.214 DOI: https://doi.org/10.23923/rpye2022.01.214
Santoyo-Reyes, L. (2023). Implicaciones emocionales del duelo infantil sobre los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Revista de Investigación y Evaluación Educativa, 10(2). https://revie.gob.do/index.php/revie/article/view/158/317 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47554/revie.vol10.num2.2023.pp24-43
Schonert, K., Overle, E., Stewart, M., Abbott, D., Oberlander, T., & Diamont, A. (2015). Mejora del desarrollo cognitivo y socioemocional mediante un programa escolar basado en la atención plena fácil de administrar para niños de primaria: ensayo controlado aleatorio Universidad de Columbia Británica. http://dx.doi.org/101037/a0038454.sup
Spitz, A., Aebi, M., Winkler, C., Walitza, S., & Steinhausen, H. (2022). Stability and change in a predictive model of emotional and behavioural problems from early adolescence to middle adulthood. Journal Of Psychiatric Research, 151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.03.029 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.03.029
Vecchio, G., Pallini, S., Zava, F., Cattelino, E., & Zuffiano, A. (2023). Children’s Prosocial and Aggressive Behaviors: The role of emotion regulation and Sympathy. Journal Of Applied Developmental Psychology, 89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2023.101598 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2023.101598
Vecchio, G., Pastorelli, C., Zava, F., Zuffiano, A., Luengo, B., Gerbino, M., & Vittorio, G. (2025). Enhancing Prosocial Behaviors, Reducing Aggression: Effects of CEPIDEAS Junior in Primary school. Journal Of Applied Developmental Psychology, 99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2025.101835 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2025.101835
Vergara, I., & Figueroa, I. (2023). Cultivando la empatía en el aula de segundo básico: Una propuesta interaccional-cooperativa. Experiencia Pedagógica
Villa-Gómez, J., Londoño, N., Gallego, M., Arango, L., & Rosso-Pérez, M. (2016). Apoyo mutuo, liderazgo afectivo y rehabilitación comunitaria una experiencia de acompañamiento psicosocial para la “rehabilitación” de víctimas del conflicto armado. Universidad de San Buenaventura, 16(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.21500/16578031.2454
Descargas
Publicado
Número
Sección
Licencia
Derechos de autor 2026 Odilis Sierra Viloria (Autor/a)

Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial 4.0.
Nexus (MIR) es una revista de acceso abierto (Open Access). Todo su contenido se distribuye bajo los términos de la licencia Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Esta licencia permite a terceros distribuir, remezclar, adaptar y ampliar su obra de manera no comercial, siempre que se dé el crédito correspondiente al autor original y a la revista, y se proporcione un enlace a la licencia. Usted puede consultar la versión completa de la licencia en: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/deed.es





