As a result both health promoting behavior coupled with healthy biological processes are the direct links to health over the lifespan. Health promoting behavior is not only directly related to physical health, but it also has an indirect effect by establishing and maintaining healthy biological processes. The SEC and Physical Health initiative has taken some major steps in advancing the science and practice of social and emotional learning. It is clear that there is an important connection between social-emotional competence and the health of both children and adults. Socially and emotionally competent children make better decisions regarding the behaviors in which they choose to engage at adolescence and throughout life.
Healthy behaviors are one of the key factors in the maintenance of physical health.
Social and emotional competence programs train children to effectively identify and handle their emotions, teach decision-making and prosocial skills that give them the ability to make healthy decisions. Providing this training early increases the likelihood that children will display adaptive social and emotional behavior early in life and prevent the development of unhealthy biological processes that are linked with disease in adulthood. Health promoting behavior and maintaining healthy biological processes throughout life is important for individuals and society by fostering healthy, knowledgeable, productive, and caring citizens.