Adolescents’ social emotional health and empathy from the perspective of positive psychology

Abstract

Non-decreasing extent of bullying, increasin of various dependencies and suicides, high level of adolescents’ behavioural and emotional problems are observed in Lithuanian schools at present. It is particularly important to conduct research on the positive adolescent development, its strengths, emotional and social areas of health that can be developed. Purpose. To investigate adolescents’ social and emotional health and empathy in the Lithuanian sample. Method. Social and Emotional Health Survey (Furlong et al., 2014) and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) (Davis, 1980). The sample: 600 adolescents (12-18 years old) from various Lithuanian schools. The research conclusions. Age and gender related differences in adolescents’ social and emotional health and empathy dimensions were identified. Positive correlation between dimensions of adolescents’ social and emotional health and empathy were identified. The results of the conducted research are significant in the context of positive development of young people and contribute to development of school learners’ social and emotional health at school.