Latent profiles of Chinese students' social-emotional learning competencies and their associations with academic motivation and achievement

We investigated the latent profiles of social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies among Chinese high school students and their association with academic motivation, achievement, and personal characteristics. Latent profile analysis of a sample of 1530 eleventh graders revealed four distinct profiles: high SEL competencies, average SEL competencies, low SEL competencies, and extremely low SEL competencies. There were significant differences in students' expectancy-value beliefs and achievement goals across these profiles. However, achievement levels did not significantly vary with SEL profiles, suggesting that SEL and academic success might coexist independently in Chinese high school students. The profiles also showed meaningful associations with student characteristics, including gender and growth mindset. Notably, different from studies conducted in the Western context, the underrepresentation of female students in the high SEL competencies group highlights a potential cultural disparity, warranting further investigation. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of integrating SEL curricula into Chinese educational settings to enhance students' social, emotional, and academic development.