Perceptions of Social and Emotional Learning(SEL) Among Skincare Professionals

This study examined skincare professionals’ awareness of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), focusing specifically on self-awareness and self-management, the two SEL domains most closely related to emotional labor in the field. A survey was administered to skincare practitioners, and 250 valid responses were used for analysis. The measurement instrument was developed based on SEL theory and the characteristics of skincare work, and its validity and reliability were verified. The results indicated that within self-awareness, the highest score was observed for values, followed by emotion, self-concept, and interest. In the domain of self-management, motivation maintenance scored the highest, followed by behavioral regulation, emotion regulation, and goal setting. Higher age and longer work experience were associated with greater levels of emotional recognition and regulation, and participants with higher educational attainment demonstrated higher self-management scores. Additionally, self-employed practitioners showed higher levels of SEL awareness across both domains compared to employees. These findings suggest that SEL competencies play a crucial role in emotional regulation, job adaptation, and customer service within skincare practice. Accordingly, SEL education and practical training focused on emotional management and tailored to job stages and career levels are needed for this professional group. This study is limited by its regionally restricted sample and by its examination of only two SEL domains. Future research should investigate all SEL components and explore their structural relationships with job performance in greater depth.