Breathing life into social emotional learning programs: A Bio-Psycho-Social approach to risk reduction and positive youth development

Ronnie I Newman; Odilia Yim; Maria-Christina Stewart

doi:10.1002/jad.12317

Breathing life into social emotional learning programs: A Bio-Psycho-Social approach to risk reduction and positive youth development

J Adolesc. 2024 Apr 11. doi: 10.1002/jad.12317. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ronnie I Newman^{1

2}, Odilia Yim³, Maria-Christina Stewart⁴

Affiliations

¹ International Association for Human Values, Wasington, D.C., USA.
² Lifelong Learning Institute, Nova Southeasern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States.
³ University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
⁴ Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.

PMID: 38605512
DOI: 10.1002/jad.12317

Abstract

Introduction: Over one-third of US adolescents engage in health risk and problem behaviors. Additionally, significant percentages of problem-free youth aren't flourishing. Left unaddressed, the lifetime mental/physical health and financial burdens may be substantial. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Positive Youth Development (PYD) programs have proliferated to address the drivers of adaptive versus risk behaviors. Research suggests SEL/PYD program outcomes can be improved by adding techniques that physiologically induce calmness, yet few studies exist.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial of 79 urban eighth-graders examined a standardized bio-psycho-social program, SKY Schools, which incorporates a physiologically calming component: controlled yogic breathing.

Results: Repeated-measures ANOVAs demonstrated that compared to controls, SKY graduates exhibited significant improvements in emotion regulation, planning and concentration, and distractibility. After 3 months, significant improvements were evidenced in emotion regulation, planning and concentration, identity formation, and aggressive normative beliefs.

Conclusion: SEL/PYD programs may benefit by incorporating biologically-calming techniques to enhance well-being and prevent risk/problem behaviors.

Keywords: Sudarshan Kriya Yoga; biopsychosocial; breathing techniques; positive youth development; risk reduction; social‐emotional learning; underserved adolescents.