Mapping Social-Emotional Skills: A Cross-Cultural Network Analysis of Children and Adolescents in Suzhou and Houston

Social-emotional skills are crucial for individual development, yet their interconnections across ages and cultures remain underexplored. Using data from the 2019 OECD Survey on Social and Emotional Skills, this study examined the network structures of the social-emotional skills among 10- and 15-year-olds in two culturally distinct urban settings: Suzhou, China (n = 7,242) and Houston, USA (n = 6,400). We applied network analysis, using graphical Gaussian models and centrality indices, to map the associations among 15 social-emotional skill facets and identify age- and culture-specific patterns. Results indicated that 15-year-olds reported lower average skill scores but exhibited denser skill interconnections compared to 10-year-olds. Across both age groups and cities, cooperation, optimism, and persistence emerged the most connected skills. Empathy was more central in Suzhou, reflecting collectivist values, while sociability was more central in Houston, aligning with individualist values. These findings broaden our understanding of the structure of social-emotional skills, highlight differences between 10- and 15-year-olds, and provide insights for designing culturally informed strategies to foster social-emotional growth.