The Skilled Student: The Role of Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Skills in High School and University

The growing complexity of modern societies requires schools and universities to prepare students not only with technical knowledge but also with a broad set of competencies that foster success and well-being. Among these, social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) skills have emerged as fundamental for educational and life outcomes. Despite their recognized importance, research on SEB skills has been hindered by the coexistence of multiple theoretical models, each emphasizing different sets of skills. To address this gap, the present dissertation adopts the SEB skills framework proposed by Soto and colleagues (2021), which identifies five skills domains (i.e., social engagement, cooperation, self-management, emotional resilience, and innovation skills) and examines their role among high school and university students. Across four empirical studies, SEB skills were examined in relation to several educational and life outcomes. The first three studies were part of a large longitudinal project involving Italian high school students. Study 1 examined the associations between SEB skills and academic and well-being outcomes, both directly and through student engagement. Study 2 employed a longitudinal approach to examine whether changes in SEB skills over the school year were linked to changes in student engagement. Study 3 focused on students at the end of high school, analyzing whether SEB skills were associated with career adaptability during this transition period. Study 4 shifted to university students, highlighting the relevance of SEB skills for both students with and without Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) during their academic journey. Overall, this dissertation demonstrates that SEB skills represent functional capacities that are central to students’ learning experiences and broader life outcomes. The findings highlight the importance of integrating SEB skills into educational practices, not only as complements to academic knowledge but as core components of students’ development. Ultimately, investing in the promotion of SEB skills means investing in students’ future success and quality of life.