Youth emotional development is the coordinated process of building the social emotional skills which underpin young people’s capability to be emotionally resilient:
- To manage difficult feelings using more discretion in responding to stressful situations and be in control;
- To increase creativity, innovation and problem-solving capability to enhance learning or work activities;
- To improve health and wellbeing through the quality of social connections and relationships, by enhancing the capacity to make emotional connections with others and interact with others;
- To build a solid optimistic approach and positive mood with a sense of self-confidence, that in many ways will inoculate against depression and anxiety.
Research clearly indicates that coordinated youth development plays a significant role in the building of Social Emotional Skills within communities, with undeniable results indicating that developing Social Emotional Skills within young people empowers them to go on and have healthier, happier and more stable adult lives.
Youth Social Emotional Skills
“Young people’s full participation in development efforts can contribute to more sustainable investments to end cycles of poverty; to build resilient, democratic societies; to improve health and nutrition outcomes, and to strengthen economies”. (USAid)
The youth of today are more aware of and concerned about the development of their communities than they ever have before, enthused by the possibility of driving positive change, peace, and prosperity, and eager to apply their talents to enhance their communities and assist the most in need.
As community influencers and leaders, youth represent a powerful voice and mobile community resource.
UNESCO reports that at the beginning of 2012, the world population surpassed 7 billion with people under the age of 30 accounting for more than half of this number (50.5%).
89.7% of people under 30 live in emerging and developing economies, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.
The United Nations World Youth Report tells how the Asian region has the largest number of young people: 754 million – and that number has nearly tripled since 1950.
USAID warns that “The global youth bulge, rise of violent extremism, and high global youth unemployment demonstrate the urgency to invest in youth. Young people in the world today constitute the largest youth population in history and 90 percent of youth live in developing countries.
Young people’s full participation in development efforts can contribute to more sustainable investments to end cycles of poverty; build resilient, democratic societies; to improve health and nutrition outcomes, and strengthen economies. Young people are critical to global stability, economic growth, and development today and in the future.”
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland states that “The adolescents and young adults who make up ‘Generation Hope’ have huge aspirations and enormous capabilities, but too often they face barriers in realizing their potential as productive citizens.
To make good on the promise and dreams of this generation and to forge a brighter future for all, we need to invest in young people’s health, education, and digital skills to provide significant opportunities for participation, employment, and personal fulfillment”
The latest research suggests that Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe are home to over 2.2 billion young people – below the age of 30.
Young people are politically conscious and are rising to demand accountability and good governance from their leaders. The large number of young people who have protested in recent political elections as a demonstration of this growing consciousness has put Governments – who have ignored young people for a long time – into turmoil.
In parallel to this, young people globally are reported as being the largest demographic affected by social change and mental health issues; with rising levels of risky behavior, self-harm, social disengagement and even criminal activity.
Interestingly, focus is shifting to equip young people with education and personal development to meet future requirements/challenges. Within Africa alone, it is estimated that $1.6 Billion annually is invested through education and non-profit activities to develop youth for leadership, entrepreneurism/ enterprise creation and general employability.
Emotions are involved with everything a person does and determine how well they manage themselves and adapt to the demands of life. The value of our ability to manage our behaviour, along with the positive morale, engagement, and commitment will determine how well we live our lives.
Definitions for social emotional competencies
One of the biggest gaps in modern-day Human Development is the ability to define, measure, and build what is known as “soft skills”.
For years senior psychology researchers have been calling for clearer definitions for social-emotional competencies related to personal development, stating that a “new scale of development is required”.
Anyone who is working in the field of Human Development – whether employed, freelance, or a volunteer – must possess a solid practical competency in developing the social and emotional dynamics which determine engagement, and underpin resilience and wellbeing.
For public, private and not-for-profit sectors, having a practice-based Social-Emotional Development competency within grass-root-focused teams introduces a tangibility element for cultivating engagement, resilience, and wellbeing.
There is considerable and growing interest in how youth emotional development directly relates to living healthier, happier, and more resilient lives. Growing research points to the fact that youth emotional development:
- matters more for general mental wellbeing (such as greater life satisfaction, mental health, and well-being);
- matters similarly for health and health-related outcomes (such as the lower likelihood of obesity, smoking and drinking, and better self-rated health);
- matters similarly for some socio-economic and labor market outcomes (such as higher income and wealth, being employed, and not being in social housing).
Social-Emotional Leadership skills
“Developing leaders with cultural sensitivities and collaborative skills requires greater focus on emotional Intelligence, self-awareness, and empowerment than on traditional management skills”. (Professor Bill George, Harvard Business School).
The most effective and recognizable leaders are all alike in one crucial way: they all have a high degree of what has come to be known as emotional intelligence. It’s not that IQ and technical skills are irrelevant, they do matter, but…they are the entry-level requirements for executive positions. Since 1995, research clearly points to emotional intelligence as the sine qua non of leadership. Without it, a person can have the best training in the world – an incisive, analytical mind, and an endless supply of smart ideas – but he still won’t make a great leader.
Although some aspects of emotional intelligence are innate, anyone who is genuinely motivated can develop his or her emotional intelligence (EQ).
Jay Baughan