Fartima Gameiro and Paula Ferreira, together with Miguel Faria, have recently published the scientific article Quality of Life and Socioemotional Development: A Lifespan Analysis in the international journal Applied Developmental Science.
The study examined the relationship between socioemotional competencies and quality of life in a sample of 1,225 Portuguese participants aged between 16 and 90 years. The findings revealed moderately high levels of socioemotional competencies, particularly self-awareness and prosocial behavior, as well as moderate levels of quality of life, with the physical domain showing the highest scores.
The analysis across age groups highlighted significant differences throughout the lifespan. Adolescents reported the lowest levels of socioemotional competencies, while older adults reported lower levels of quality of life. The results also demonstrated that age significantly influences the relationship between socioemotional competencies and quality of life, suggesting that the impact of these competencies varies according to developmental stage.
The study underscores the importance of age-tailored interventions. The findings suggest that adolescents particularly benefit from decision-making and broader socioemotional skills development; young adults from strengthening self-management and decision-making skills; middle-aged adults from enhancing social awareness; and older adults from reinforcing prosocial behavior, social awareness, and self-awareness.
Published in Applied Developmental Science, a Q1 journal in the field of Developmental Psychology, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the factors that promote well-being and quality of life across the lifespan, highlighting the value of developmentally informed intervention strategies.
Reference
Gameiro, F., Ferreira, P., & Faria, M. (2026). Quality of Life and Socioemotional Development: A Lifespan Analysis. Applied Developmental Science, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/
The study examined the relationship between socioemotional competencies and quality of life in a sample of 1,225 Portuguese participants aged between 16 and 90 years. The findings revealed moderately high levels of socioemotional competencies, particularly self-awareness and prosocial behavior, as well as moderate levels of quality of life, with the physical domain showing the highest scores.
The analysis across age groups highlighted significant differences throughout the lifespan. Adolescents reported the lowest levels of socioemotional competencies, while older adults reported lower levels of quality of life. The results also demonstrated that age significantly influences the relationship between socioemotional competencies and quality of life, suggesting that the impact of these competencies varies according to developmental stage.
The study underscores the importance of age-tailored interventions. The findings suggest that adolescents particularly benefit from decision-making and broader socioemotional skills development; young adults from strengthening self-management and decision-making skills; middle-aged adults from enhancing social awareness; and older adults from reinforcing prosocial behavior, social awareness, and self-awareness.
Published in Applied Developmental Science, a Q1 journal in the field of Developmental Psychology, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the factors that promote well-being and quality of life across the lifespan, highlighting the value of developmentally informed intervention strategies.
Reference
Gameiro, F., Ferreira, P., & Faria, M. (2026). Quality of Life and Socioemotional Development: A Lifespan Analysis. Applied Developmental Science, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/