The Mediator Role of Mindfulness Between Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health Problems

This article investigated how mindfulness mediates the association between social-emotional learning (SEL) and mental health problems. The participants were 470 university students at the department of classroom teaching, guidance and psychological counseling, preschool, and special education departments. 285 of them were females (60.6%) and 185 of them were males (39.4%), between the age of 18 to 23 (SD=1.29). Social Emotional Learning Scale for Adolescents, Conscious Awareness Scale, and General Health Questionnaire were used for data collection. This study employed Hayes's regression-based Model 4 mediation analysis to test how mindfulness mediates the relationship between SEL and mental health problems. The study found that SEL significantly predicted fewer mental health problems. Moreover, this study suggested that mindfulness plays a mediating role between SEL and mental health problems. Taken all together, the study revealed significant direct and indirect effects of SEL on mental health problems. According to findings, incorporating SEL and mindfulness into psychosocial support programs for university students can be effective in alleviating mental health problems. This study highlighted the protective role of mindfulness-based SEL practices on mental health.