Dynamic Effects of Family Factors on Children's Social and Emotional Competence: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This paper presents a systematic literature review examining the dynamic effects of family factors on children’s social and emotional competence. Social and emotional competence, encompassing skills such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, interpersonal skills, and responsible decision-making, is crucial for shaping an individual’s career success and overall well-being. The review highlights that family factors, including socio-economic status, family capital, parenting styles, and parent-child interactions, significantly influence children’s socio-emotional development. Studies show that higher family economic capital and parental literacy positively impact children’s social-emotional competence, while warm and authoritative parenting styles, as well as collaborative parenting approaches, foster a harmonious family environment and enhance children’s socio-emotional competence. Additionally, the review underscores the importance of parent-child communication in mitigating negative impacts such as those caused by parent-child separation. The findings suggest that to improve children’s social-emotional competence, parents should adopt positive parenting strategies, respect their children’s individual needs, and provide ample support and encouragement. Future research should explore the interactions between different family factors and their specific influences across diverse cultural and socio-economic contexts to develop more effective family intervention strategies.