Social and Emotional Competence and prosociality Effects of Middle School Students on Adaptation and Maladjustment to School Life

This study aims to investigate the impact of social and emotional competency and prosociality on the adaptation and maladaptation of middle school students to school life. To achieve this, a survey was conducted among 309 students currently enrolled at S Middle School in G Metropolitan City, and data were collected. Based on the collected data, groups with higher and lower levels of school life adaptation were identified, and variables influencing adaptation and maladaptation to school life were examined. The results revealed that First, the social and emotional competencies of the adaptation group was significantly higher on average than that of the maladaptation group. Second, the average prosociality of the school life adaptation group was also higher than that of the maladaptation group. Third, an analysis of the sub-variables of social and emotional competencies that influence school life adaptation identified 'self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management' as key factors. Finally, 'cooperation' was found to be the sub-variable of prosociality affecting school life adaptation. These findings provide educational directions for enhancing social and emotional competency and prosocial competencies to successfully adapt to school life among middle school students.