Preliminary Evaluation of a Targeted, School-Based Social and Emotional Learning Intervention for at Risk Youth: Football Beyond Borders

Qiqi Cheng and Neil Humphrey

Evaluation Review, 2025, vol. 49, issue 5, 914-930

Abstract: This brief report provides preliminary independent evidence of the efficacy of Football Beyond Borders (FBB), a targeted, school-based social and emotional learning (SEL) intervention for at-risk youth. FBB includes weekly SEL classroom sessions, activities on the football pitch, 1:1 therapy sessions, holiday support, and rewards trips. Propensity score matching and difference-in-differences estimation were used in a pre-test/post-test control group design to assess the impact of FBB on the mental wellbeing (assessed via the Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, SWEMWBS) of participants designated at-risk ( N = 46 aged 12–14, 78.3% male), passive learners ( N = 72, aged 12–14, 84.7% male), and role models ( N = 35, aged 12–14, 85.7% male), with matched control samples derived from a subset of the #BeeWell cohort study ( N = 8015). A significant intervention effect was observed for at-risk youth, with FBB leading to an increase of approximately 2.4 SWEMWBS points ( d = 0.44). No significant intervention effects were observed for passive learners or role models. These results indicate that FBB can improve the mental wellbeing of at-risk youth. Accordingly, an explanatory trial is warranted.

Keywords: social-emotional learning (SEL); at-risk youth; mental wellbeing; school; intervention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:evarev:v:49:y:2025:i:5:p:914-930

DOI: 10.1177/0193841X251329459

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