Abstract
Research on whether peer support benefits primary school students’ social and emotional learning is still in its infancy. This study aimed to investigate the benefits of a peer support program (PSP) on the acquiring of social-emotional competencies and self-determination in a primary school context. In this primary school context, the peer support champions (PSCs) were trained to carry out their roles in looking out for their peers. The program continued for a semester before 11 primary four and five students were interviewed to study the impact of PSCs on them. Results showed that the PSCs had a close relationship with their peers. Additionally, they were found to be positive influences on their peers and had benefited them. These findings suggest that the PSP can be an effective intervention for students to learn SECs and become self-determined individuals. Overall, this study highlights the importance of peer influence on students in school. Further research is required to substantiate this argument and explore the long-term effects of the program on students as the study was relatively small-scale.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Adams, C., Adigun, O. B., & Fiegener, A. (2022). Student trust in school peers: A relational condition for optimal school functioning. Journal of Educational Administration, 60(6), 545–560. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-02-2022-0028
Alivernini, F., Cavicchiolo, E., Girelli, L., Lucidi, F., Biasi, V., Leone, L., Cozzolino, M., Manganelli, S. (2019). Relationships between sociocultural factors (gender, immigrant and socioeconomic background), peer relatedness and positive affect in adolescents. Journal of Adolescence (London, England.), 76(1), 99–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2019.08.011.
Ang, H. M. (2022, March 7). Mid-year exams for all primary and secondary school levels will be removed by 2023: MOE. Channel News Asia. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/mid-year-exams-all-primary-and-secondary-school-levels-will-be-removed-2023-moe-2544051.
Baggerly, J., Soliz, A., Liles, S., & Hernandez, M. (2020). Exploring the Effect of a Social-Emotional Learning Intervention on Motivation and Academic Outcomes Using Self-Determination Theory. Journal of Educational Psychology, 112(7), 1402–1418. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000425
Choukas-Bradley, S., Giletta, M., Cohen, G. L., & Prinstein, M. J. (2015). Peer influence, peer status, and prosocial behavior: An experimental investigation of peer socialization of adolescents’ intentions to volunteer. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44(12), 2197–2210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0373-2
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). (2017). What is SEL? https://casel.org/what-is-sel/.
Colletti, N. T., & Ryan, R. M. (2019). Intrinsic motivation to attend school: The effect of school climate, social support, and psychological needs satisfaction. Journal of Educational Psychology, 111(7), 1194–1216. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000388
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01
Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01564.x
Eng, Y. C. (2010). Basic psychological needs and well-being of secondary school students (Doctoral dissertation).
Epstein, J. A., Griffin, K. W., & Botvin, G. J. (2000). Competence skills help deter smoking among inner city adolescents. Tobacco Control, 9, 33–39. https://doi.org/10.1136/tc.9.1.33
Foulkes, J. D., Knowles, Z. R., & Fairclough, S. J. (2019). Exploring student and teacher perceptions of competence, autonomy and relatedness in physical education: A review of literature. European Physical Education Review, 25(2), 415–436. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X18788813
Froiland, J. M., & Worrell, F. C. (2016). Intrinsic motivation, learning goals, engagement, and achievement in a diverse high school. Psychology in the Schools, 53(3), 321–336. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.21901
Graczyk, P., Matjasko, J., Weissberg, R., Greenberg, M., Elias, M., & Zins, J. (2000). The role of the collaborative to advance social and emotional learning (CASEL) in supporting the implementation of quality school-based prevention programs. Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 11(1), 3–6. https://doi.org/10.1207/s1532768Xjepc1101_02.
Hakimzadeh, R., Besharat, M. -A., Khaleghinezhad, S. A., & Ghorban Jahromi, R. (2016). Peers’ perceived support, student engagement in academic activities and life satisfaction: A structural equation modeling approach. School Psychology International, 37(3), 240–254. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034316630020.
Han, Y., & Brinton, B. (2020). The role of social support and coping strategies in predicting Chinese international students’ academic adaptation in the United States. Psychological Studies, 65(4), 501–510. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691620966789
King, H. C., Fischer, A. J., Lewis, H. L. J., & Payan, J. C. (2021). Peer modeling interventions. In T. A. Collins & R. O. Hawkins (Eds.), Peers as change agents: A guide to implementing peer-mediated interventions in schools (pp. 163–175). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/med-psych/9780190068714.003.0014.
Levesque-Bristol, C., Knapp, T. D., & Fisher, B. J. (2011). The effectiveness of service-learning: It’s not always what you think. The Journal of Experiential Education, 33(3), 208–224. https://doi.org/10.1177/105382590113300302
Lietaert, S., Roorda, D., Laevers, F., Verschueren, K., & De Fraine, B. (2015). The gender gap in student engagement: The role of teachers’ autonomy support, structure, and involvement. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 85(4), 498–518. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12095
Linnenbrink-Garcia, L., Patall, E. A., & Pekrun, R. (2016). Adaptive motivation and emotion in education: Research and principles for instructional design. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(2), 228–236. https://doi.org/10.1177/2372732216644450
Liu, W. C., Wang, C. K. J., Kee, Y. H., Koh, C., Lim, B. S. C., & Chua, L. (2014). College students’ motivation and learning strategies profiles and academic achievement: A self-determination theory approach. Educational Psychology, 34(3), 338–353. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2013.785067
Ng, P. T. (2019). The paradoxes of student well-being in Singapore. Educational Research for Policy and Practice, 18(4), 423–439. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10671-019-09244-9
Núñez, J. L., & León, J. (2015). Autonomy support in the classroom: A review from self-determination theory. European Psychologist, 20(4), 275–283. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000234
Payton, J. W., Graczyk, P. A., Bloodworth, M. R., Tompsett, C. J., Weissberg, R. P. (2000). Social and emotional learning: A framework for promoting mental health and reducing risk behavior in children and youth. The Journal of School Health, 70(5), 179–185. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2000.tb06468.x.
Poh, B. (2018, 29 September). Commentary: A hyper-competitive culture is breeding severe test anxiety among many students. Channel News Asia. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/hyper-competitive-culture-breeding-severe-test-anxiety-among-799076.
Richard, J., Rebinsky, R., Suresh, R., Kubic, S., Carter, A., Cunningham, J. E. A., Ker, A., Williams, K., & Sorin, M. (2022). Scoping review to evaluate the effects of peer support on the mental health of young adults. British Medical Journal Open, 12(8), e061336. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061336
Roorda, D. L., Koomen, H. M., Spilt, J. L., & Oort, F. J. (2011). The influence of affective teacher–student relationships on students’ school engagement and achievement: A meta-analytic approach. Review of Educational Research, 81(4), 493–529. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654311421793
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness. Guilford Publications. https://doi.org/10.1521/978.14625/28806
van de Sande, M. C. E., Fekkes, M., Kocken, P. L., Diekstra, R. F., Reis, R., & Gravesteijn, C. (2019). Do universal social and emotional learning programs for secondary school students enhance the competencies they address? A systematic review. Psychology in the Schools, 56(10), 1545–1567. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22307.
Sedlacek, M. & Sedova, K. (2020). Are student engagement and peer relationships connected to student participation in classroom talk?. Learning, Culture, and Interaction, 26(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lcsi.2020.100411.
Sklad, M., Diekstra, R., De Ritter, M., Ben, J., & Gravesteijn, C. (2012). Effectiveness of school-based universal social, emotional, and behavioral programs: Do they enhance students’ development in the area of skill, behavior, and adjustment? Psychology in the Schools, 49(9), 892–909. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.21641
Standage, M., Duda, J. L., & Ntoumanis, N. (2005). A test of self-determination theory in school physical education. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 75(3), 411–433. https://doi.org/10.1348/000709904X22359
Suárez, N., Regueiro, B., EstĂ©vez, I., Ferradás, M. d. M., Guisande, M. A., RodrĂguez, S. (2019). Individual precursors of student homework behavioral engagement: The role of intrinsic motivation, perceived homework utility and homework attitude. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00941.
Tarbetsky, A. L., Martin, A. J., Collie, R. J. (2017). Social and emotional learning, social and emotional competence, and students’ academic outcomes: The roles of psychological need satisfaction, adaptability, and buoyancy. In E. Frydenberg, A. Martin, R. Collie (Eds.), Social and Emotional Learning in Australia and the Asia-Pacific. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3394-0_2.
Taylor, R. D., Oberle, E., Durlak, J. A., & Weissberg, R. P. (2017). Promoting positive youth development through school-based social and emotional learning interventions: A meta-analysis of follow-up effects. Child Development, 88(4), 1156–1171. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12864
Thomas, K. J., da Cunha, J., & Santo, J. B. (2022). Changes in character virtues are driven by classroom relationships: A longitudinal study of elementary school children. School Mental Health, 14, 266–277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-022-09511-8
Trentacosta, C. J., & Fine, S. E. (2010). Emotion knowledge, social competence, and behavior problems in childhood and adolescence: A meta-analytic review. Social Development, 19, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9507.2009.00543.x
Vasconcellos, D., Parker, P. D., Hilland, T., Cinelli, R., Owen, K. B., Kapsal, N., Lee, J., Antczak, D., Ntoumanis, N., Ryan, R. M., & Lonsdale, C. (2020). Self-determination theory applied to physical education: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Educational Psychology, 112(7), 1444–1469. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000420
Weissberg, R. P., Durlak, J. A., Domitrovich, C.E., & Gullotta, T. P. (2015). Social and emotional learning: Past, present, and future. In J. A. Durlak, C. E. Domitrovich, R. P. Weissberg & T. P. Gullotta (Eds.), Handbook of social and emotional learning: Research and practice (pp. 3–19). New York, NY: Guilford.
Wong, P. (2019, December 3). 3 in 4 Singapore students fear failure, higher than global average: OECD study. Today Online. https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/3-4-singapore-students-fear-failure-higher-global-average-oecd-study.
Xia Q., Chiu, T. K., Lee, M., Sanusi, I. T., Dai, Y., & Chai, C. S. (2022). A self-determination theory education. Computers and Education, 189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2022.104582.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to all students who took part in the study. The present study was funded by the Office of Educational Research (OER), National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (Grant number: OER 24/21 BNLL).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ng, C.R., Ng, B. (2023). Exploring Social-Emotional Competencies of Students Through Peer Support in a Primary School. In: Ng, B. (eds) Self-Determination Theory and Socioemotional Learning . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7897-7_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7897-7_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-99-7896-0
Online ISBN: 978-981-99-7897-7
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)