Love in Formal Education: A Systematic Review of Empirical Studies

Love is recognized as a fundamental pillar in education, yet empirical research on this topic remains limited. Given this gap, the present study conducts a systematic review by analyzing studies from Web of Science and Scopus. The review focuses exclusively on formal educational settings and includes 24 empirical studies employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Five key themes emerged: the conceptualization of love in education, its influence on teachers’ professional success and well-being, its impact on students’ social and emotional development, the role of love in fostering positive teacher-student relationships, and the ethical and practical challenges of integrating love into educational practice. The findings highlight love’s benefits, including enhanced well-being, professional satisfaction, and academic success, while also noting the need for clear definitions, ethical guidelines, and training for educators. Overall, the review suggests that love in education is a powerful yet context-dependent phenomenon. It supports the integration of love into educational policies and practices and serves as a foundation for future research, providing valuable insights for policymakers, teacher educators, and practitioners.