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Psychological and hormonal effects of socio-emotional learning in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial

Author

Listed:
  • Diana Prata

    (Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
    King’s College London)

  • Susana Fonseca

    (CIS_ISCTE)

  • Ana Ramos

    (IPAV)

Abstract

Socio-emotional learning (SEL) is thought to increase children and youth’s social competencies such as empathy, however it has not been widely integrated in educational settings. This may be due to a lack of randomized-controlled trial (RCT) designs and objective and quantitative measurements, including of its neurobiological underpinnings, particularly in adolescence. This study examined the effect of a 1-week SEL intervention, and of a group-bonding task within it, on salivary oxytocin levels, and on the Multifaceted Empathy Test, using an RCT design and a repeated measures between subjects ANOVA, in 88 adolescents (35 female and 53 male). We found that salivary oxytocin was increased by performing the group-bonding task (p = 0.007, η²p = 0.089), but the 1-week intervention as whole did not augment this increase. The intervention increased emotional empathy, at a statistical trend level, in females. Lastly, an emotional empathy increase (from the first time to second time performing the group-bonding task) was positively correlated with an oxytocin increase (r = 0.235, p = 0.033), regardless of intervention. These findings point to a positive impact of SEL on emotional empathy, and of group-bonding tasks on endogenous oxytocin release, albeit preliminarily; with further replicatory research warranted.

Suggested Citation

  • Diana Prata & Susana Fonseca & Ana Ramos, 2025. "Psychological and hormonal effects of socio-emotional learning in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04893-x
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04893-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. van der Stouwe, Trudy & Asscher, Jessica J. & Hoeve, Machteld & van der Laan, Peter H. & Stams, Geert Jan J.M., 2018. "Social skills training (SST) effects on social information processing skills in justice-involved adolescents: Affective empathy as predictor or moderator," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 1-7.
    2. Michael Kosfeld & Markus Heinrichs & Paul J. Zak & Urs Fischbacher & Ernst Fehr, 2005. "Oxytocin increases trust in humans," Nature, Nature, vol. 435(7042), pages 673-676, June.
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