Social and Emotional Well-Being of Adolescents From Disadvantaged Backgrounds

Introduction

Well-being is about feeling good and functioning effectively. The concept of “feeling good” involves the experience of positive emotions, trusting relationships, the development of one’s potential and a sense of purpose in life (Huppert, 2009,). It is a condition that allows young people to progress and thrive. Well-being is crucial for positive development in adolescents, which enables them to achieve positive outcomes in school, work, and life (Durlak et al., 2015; Srikala & Kishore, 2010). The concept of “well-being” has grown and extended to many different areas. The term “well-being” is often used interchangeably with words such as happiness, satisfaction, wellness, welfare, etc. A systematic review by Pollard and Lee (2003) found that well-being is not consistently defined, and the key dimensions commonly used were physical, psychological, cognitive, social and economic well-being. In the past few decades, scientific research literature has seen a shift in emphasis from health and disorders to well-being and positive mental health. This shift has led to a broadened definition of health, referred to as a “state of physical, social and mental well-being” (WHO, 1986). Since then, various initiatives have recommended that schools take responsibility for promoting adolescents' social and emotional well-being.

Research studies have shown that the definitions of “well-being” vary in the literature and that the multidimensional nature of well-being is very well accepted. Of all the varying dimensions, the social and emotional dimensions of well-being are found to be the most widely studied, included and accepted. (CYPSC: Social and Emotional Learning, 2016; Kulkarni et al 2021). Social and Emotional Well-being (SEW) is considered the heart of “true well-being.” In general, it is the child’s ability to comprehend and control their emotions and behaviours, as well as their capacity to get along well with their peers. In simple terms, SEW is the ability to adapt to and deal with daily challenges while leading a fulfilling life. It also covers various aspects like better mental health, life satisfaction and social emotional skills, which are key to children’s development and play an important role in shaping a range of well-being outcomes (Kautz et al., 2014). Studies have shown an increase in social, emotional well-being and mental health problems among children and young people (Collishaw et al., 2004; Sunitha and Gururaj, 2014). Adolescents with low SEW are more likely to struggle at home, with peer groups, and at school, and are less likely to have positive social and emotional well-being (Noonan & Fairclough, 2018). Evidences demonstrate that relationships and experiences in the community in which adolescents reside have a substantial impact on their development, self-esteem, social adjustment and well-being (Barth et al. 2004; Singhal & Prakash, 2021).

Children from disadvantaged backgrounds have limited opportunities for growth and learning. They do not enjoy their childhood or have the same benefits as children from advantaged neighbourhoods. They may not always be as successful as the children from privileged communities, who have more avenues for learning and transform into productive and responsible citizens. Many of them drop out of school, leaving them with less knowledge, fewer skills, and lower life satisfaction (Inchley et al., 2018). This can reduce their chances of becoming productive members of society.