Emotions in context: Children’s emotional competence from global and cross-cultural perspectives

Human emotional development is deeply embedded in social and cultural contexts, yet much of our scientific understanding is built on a limited range of cultural perspectives with main focus on white and middle-class children and families. How children understand, express, and regulate emotions is shaped by cultural values, socioeconomic conditions, historical processes, caregiving practices, and socialization processes beginning in infancy and continuing through adolescence. As societies grow more interconnected and multicultural, and developmental psychology increasingly takes a stand in a decolonial approach, it becomes essential to examine how social and cultural differences—and similarities—impact emotional development, emotional competence, social adaptation, and well-being in young people.This Research Topic aims to address important gaps in developmental science by inviting innovative, cross-cultural, and international research on the influence of social and cultural aspects on emotional competence in childhood. We welcome empirical, methodological, and theoretical contributions examining mechanisms through which social processes and culture influences emotion recognition, expression, regulation and understanding. Key aims include expanding our knowledge of (a) universal and culturally specific pathways in emotional development, (b) the impact of migration, biculturalism, and globalization on emotional development, and (c) the role of institutions, families, and peers in emotional socialization across different societies.We particularly encourage research that includes understudied cultural, linguistic, or minority groups (e.g. indigenous population, children from the global South in vulnerable situations, etc), considers diverse developmental periods (from infancy through adolescence), or advances measurement and theory in cross-cultural emotion research. By synthesizing findings from a range of world regions, this Topic seeks to lay groundwork for culturally informed theories, better assessment practices, and practical implications for education, mental health, and social policy.This collection invites manuscripts that address (but are not limited to) the following themes:o Cross-cultural comparisons of emotion understanding, expression, and regulation during early, middle, or late childhood.o Studies of emotional competence or emotion socialization in immigrant, multicultural, or minority populations.o The influence of language, parenting, schooling, socioeconomic conditions, or social institutions on children’s emotional development across societies.o Theoretical or methodological advancements in measuring emotion or emotional competence across cultures.o Interventions, policies, or educational practices that incorporate cultural perspectives on children’s emotions.o Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and brief perspectives/theory pieces are highly welcome, as are empirical studies using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods.We especially encourage submissions from research teams working in geographic regions underrepresented in developmental research. Topic editors: Karine Maria Porpino Viana, Annalisa Valle, Daniela Bulgarelli Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76390/emotions-in-context-childrens-emotional-competence-from-global-and-cross-cultural-perspectives