Which social-emotional skills are most important for students' learning and well-being? An international comparison among China, USA and Finland

Social-emotional skills are crucial for an individual's development, yet there is limited examination regarding which skills are most effective for students' learning and well-being, especially from a cross-national perspective. This study thus aimed to fill this gap and to identify the most important skills in three representative countries in education: China, USA, and Finland. Drawing data from OECD Social-emotional Skills Survey study, about 20,000 students from three countries (N_China = 7246, N_USA = 6434 and N_Finland = 5482) were included in this study. The Relative Weights Analysis and the Dominance Analysis were conducted to identify critical social-emotional skills. Results showed that, after controlling for demographical variables, in general, curiosity, persistence and responsibility were the most important skills for students' learning outcomes, while optimism, energy, and stress resistance were the three most crucial skills relating to students' well-being. However, there was also context-specific finding for achievement: tolerance was critical for US students' academic achievement while assertiveness and creativity were most important for Chinese students' achievements. These findings have important implications for tailored social-emotional skills interventions and training programs.

Educational Relevance statement

This study provides important insights for educational practices by identifying key social-emotional skills that influence students'’ learning and well-being across different countries. It highlights the consistent importance of curiosity, persistence and responsibility, the context-specific relevance of tolerance in USA, assertiveness and creativity in China, and the universal benefits of optimism, energy, and stress resistance for student well-being, suggesting tailored and prioritized educational interventions.