A PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOEMOTIONAL COMPETENCES IN EARLY EDUCATION: EFFECTS ON THE STUDENTS’ INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

During the pandemic, the dynamics of interpersonal relationships among students, as well as between students and teachers, underwent a significant transformation due to the imposed restrictions, social distancing measures, and learning through technology. In that context, the development of socio-em...

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Main Authors: Cristina MASGRAS (CHIRCU), Rodica Gabriela ENACHE
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: National Centre for Policy and Evaluation in Education 2025-07-01
Series:Revista de Pedagogie
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revped.ise.ro/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/RevPed-1.2025-2.pdf
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author Cristina MASGRAS (CHIRCU)
Rodica Gabriela ENACHE
author_facet Cristina MASGRAS (CHIRCU)
Rodica Gabriela ENACHE
author_sort Cristina MASGRAS (CHIRCU)
collection DOAJ
description During the pandemic, the dynamics of interpersonal relationships among students, as well as between students and teachers, underwent a significant transformation due to the imposed restrictions, social distancing measures, and learning through technology. In that context, the development of socio-emotional skills was a priority in the training of students, in addition to ensuring the continuity of the educational process. Based on the collaborative learning paradigm, the proposed program sought to develop the students’ social-emotional skills during a crisis situation. In addition, it examined the role of teachers in improving student relationships and preventing negative behavior. This quasi-experimental approach, involving initial and final measurements, was implemented between October 2021 and May 2022 on a group of 30 fourth-grade students. The thorough analysis of the data, conducted after three years of collection, is justified by our decision to use it in a broader academic study. We aimed to identify practices related to students’ social-emotional education in atypical contexts that could be applied to similar situations in the future, thereby ensuring the resilience of the educational process. Building on the theories of emotional intelligence formulated by Goleman and the social learning theories of Bandura, various techniques were developed and applied to enhance the capacity for self-knowledge, mutual knowledge, and interrelationships, such as role-playing, discussion circles, and collective feedback. The main objective of the program was to support students in adapting to the new educational and social realities, while also fostering a healthy group dynamic based on empathy and peer support. The tools we used to assess group dynamics included sociograms and sociometric tests. The results of this pedagogical quasi-experiment showed an increase in the group cohesion index between the initial phase and the final phase (Cgri = 0,036, compared to Cgrf = 0,062), reflected in better collaboration in group activities and an improved school climate. The involvement of the teaching staff as a facilitator of change proved that teachers play an important role in developing the students’ socio-emotional skills and enhancing group dynamics, even under conditions of limited social interaction.
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spelling doaj-art-eead038164e84a52bda6c7f5bd3184962025-08-20T03:40:48ZengNational Centre for Policy and Evaluation in EducationRevista de Pedagogie0034-86782559-639X2025-07-01LXXIII1456810.26755/RevPed/2025.1/45A PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOEMOTIONAL COMPETENCES IN EARLY EDUCATION: EFFECTS ON THE STUDENTS’ INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPSCristina MASGRAS (CHIRCU)0Rodica Gabriela ENACHE1University of Bucharest, Faculty of Psychology and Educational SciencesOvidius University of Constanţa, Faculty of Psychology and Education SciencesDuring the pandemic, the dynamics of interpersonal relationships among students, as well as between students and teachers, underwent a significant transformation due to the imposed restrictions, social distancing measures, and learning through technology. In that context, the development of socio-emotional skills was a priority in the training of students, in addition to ensuring the continuity of the educational process. Based on the collaborative learning paradigm, the proposed program sought to develop the students’ social-emotional skills during a crisis situation. In addition, it examined the role of teachers in improving student relationships and preventing negative behavior. This quasi-experimental approach, involving initial and final measurements, was implemented between October 2021 and May 2022 on a group of 30 fourth-grade students. The thorough analysis of the data, conducted after three years of collection, is justified by our decision to use it in a broader academic study. We aimed to identify practices related to students’ social-emotional education in atypical contexts that could be applied to similar situations in the future, thereby ensuring the resilience of the educational process. Building on the theories of emotional intelligence formulated by Goleman and the social learning theories of Bandura, various techniques were developed and applied to enhance the capacity for self-knowledge, mutual knowledge, and interrelationships, such as role-playing, discussion circles, and collective feedback. The main objective of the program was to support students in adapting to the new educational and social realities, while also fostering a healthy group dynamic based on empathy and peer support. The tools we used to assess group dynamics included sociograms and sociometric tests. The results of this pedagogical quasi-experiment showed an increase in the group cohesion index between the initial phase and the final phase (Cgri = 0,036, compared to Cgrf = 0,062), reflected in better collaboration in group activities and an improved school climate. The involvement of the teaching staff as a facilitator of change proved that teachers play an important role in developing the students’ socio-emotional skills and enhancing group dynamics, even under conditions of limited social interaction.https://revped.ise.ro/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/RevPed-1.2025-2.pdfgroup dynamicsinterpersonal relationshipssocial-emotional competence
spellingShingle Cristina MASGRAS (CHIRCU)
Rodica Gabriela ENACHE
A PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOEMOTIONAL COMPETENCES IN EARLY EDUCATION: EFFECTS ON THE STUDENTS’ INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Revista de Pedagogie
group dynamics
interpersonal relationships
social-emotional competence
title A PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOEMOTIONAL COMPETENCES IN EARLY EDUCATION: EFFECTS ON THE STUDENTS’ INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
title_full A PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOEMOTIONAL COMPETENCES IN EARLY EDUCATION: EFFECTS ON THE STUDENTS’ INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
title_fullStr A PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOEMOTIONAL COMPETENCES IN EARLY EDUCATION: EFFECTS ON THE STUDENTS’ INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
title_full_unstemmed A PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOEMOTIONAL COMPETENCES IN EARLY EDUCATION: EFFECTS ON THE STUDENTS’ INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
title_short A PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOEMOTIONAL COMPETENCES IN EARLY EDUCATION: EFFECTS ON THE STUDENTS’ INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
title_sort program for the development of socioemotional competences in early education effects on the students interpersonal relationships
topic group dynamics
interpersonal relationships
social-emotional competence
url https://revped.ise.ro/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/RevPed-1.2025-2.pdf
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