SOCIAL EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES: HISPANIC CULTURAL DIFFERENCES ON THE WCSD-SECA

Abstract

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) has been studied for nearly four decades, due to its association with academic performance. In recent decades, there has been a push for EQ training within K-12 classrooms, resulting in Social Emotional Learning (SEL) standards that have been adopted by multiple states. Although emotional developmental frameworks continue to progress, the tools used to measure this construct are questionable, especially when applied to diverse groups of students. For example, Hispanic populations socialize, communicate, and express emotions in distinct cultural ways that might not be captured by measures designed for non-Hispanic populations. The present study examines the degree to which social emotional competencies (SEC) differ among Hispanic students compared to their White counterparts on the Washoe County School District Social and Emotional Competency Assessment (WCSD-SECA).