Teacher Training and conflict management in Elementary Education: A Systematic Review of the Literature (2020–2025)

Authors

  • Dolly Mireya Torres Ruiz Universidad Antonio Nariño
  • Víctor Manuel Prado Delgado Universidad Antonio Nariño

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55040/e9zxrc88

Keywords:

school coexistence, school conflict, teacher training, socioemotional, primary school

Abstract

 This systematic literature review analyzes recent research trends on social interaction, conflict, and school climate in elementary education, with an emphasis on teacher training and mediation strategies. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, determining factors were identified across the relational, socio-emotional, and institutional dimensions. The findings reveal a shift toward restorative and preventive approaches that prioritize social-emotional skills, empathy, and assertive communication to foster positive environments. Teacher training is highlighted as a strategic pillar for reframing conflict as a pedagogical opportunity. Additionally, there is growing interest in innovative tools, such as Immersive Virtual Reality, for training in classroom management and collaborative conflict resolution. The review underscores the importance of school administration in fostering institutional cultures focused on mediation and well-being, highlighting the need to strengthen policies, pedagogical leadership, and inclusive teacher support strategies. Finally, it identifies gaps in training programs regarding mediation and emotional education, which justifies the development of contextualized, sustainable, and relevant training proposals for elementary school teachers.

References

Albalá Genol, M. Á., & Guerra Gamero, J. (2020). Promoción de la prosocialidad y la justicia social en educación primaria: una experiencia preliminar. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology, 18(2), 303-326. https://doi.org/10.25115/ejrep.v18i51.3348

Álvarez, I. M., Morodo, A., Romero-Hernández, A., & Manero, B. (2025). Virtual reality to assess classroom management competence: a study on conflict management. RIED-Revista Iberoamericana de Educación a Distancia, 28(1), 347-370. https://doi.org/10.5944/ried.28.1.41472

Álvarez, I. M., Manero, B., Morodo, A., Suñé-Soler, N., & Henao, C. (2023). Realidad Virtual Inmersiva para mejorar la competencia de gestión del clima del aula en secundaria. Educación XX1, 26(1), 249-272. https://doi.org/10.5944/educxx1.33418

Avivar-Cáceres, S., Prado-Gascó, V., & Parra-Camacho, D. (2022). Effectiveness of the FHaCE Up! Program on School Violence, School Climate, Conflict Management Styles, and Socio-Emotional Skills on Secondary School Students. Sustainability, 14(24), 17013. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142417013

Bayón-Rodríguez, L., González-Mayorga, H., & Vieira, M. J. (2025). La convivencia escolar en la formación inicial del profesorado de educación primaria. Revista Complutense de Educación, 36(2), 151-161. https://doi.org/10.5209/rced.93440

Bonilla R., P., Armadans, I., & Anguera, M. T. (2024). Focus group on conflict management in the classroom in Secondary Education in Costa Rica: mixed methods approach. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1407433. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1407433

Briones, E., Gallego, T., & Palomera, R. (2022). Creative Drama and Forum Theatre in initial teacher education: Fostering students’ empathy and awareness of professional conflicts. Teaching and Teacher Education, 117, 103809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2022.103809

Castro Mosqueda, H. (2025). The role of emotions in teacher agency: A study of Mexican English language educators. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, 27(1), 67-82. https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v27n1.114867

Cebolla-Baldoví, R., & García-Raga, L. (2021). Un enfoque teórico-legislativo del conflicto escolar: hacia nuevos modelos de gestión. Revista de Paz y Conflictos, 14(2), 56-86. https://doi.org/10.30827/revpaz.v14i2.21186

Colomina Molina, M. T. (2023). Mediación artística y educativa: teatro foro con temática inclusiva y diversidad de género contra el bullying. Arteterapia. Papeles de arteterapia y educación para inclusión social, 18, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.5209/arte.82272

Costa, E. P. da, & Costa, I. (2022). O professor como educador para a convivencia: contributos da formação em mediação. Revista de Investigación Educativa (BRAJETS), 15(1), 164-173. https://doi.org/10.14571/brajets.v15.n1.164-173

Esteve-Faubel, J. M., Esteve-Faubel, R. P., Chust-Pérez, V., & Botella-Quirant, M. T. (2025). Soft skills in teacher training: An experience with music education. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 12, 101681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101681

Felip Jacas, N., Puiggali Apelluz, J., & Tesouro Cid, M. (2024). Análisis de dificultades de convivencia en centros escolares de Cataluña. Propuestas de mejora. Revista Electrónica Interuniversitaria de Formación del Profesorado, 27(1), 225-239. https://doi.org/10.6018/reifop.577881

Gómez, P., Monge, C., del Castillo, H., & Kassar, M. (2022). Aprendizaje cooperativo con teléfonos móviles en un contexto de vulnerabilidad: resultados en la convivencia. Revista Electrónica de Investigación Educativa, 24, e17, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.24320/redie.2022.24.e17.4924

Guillén-Gámez, F.D., Colomo-Magaña, E., Doddanavar, I. et al. Incidence of Factors in Teaching Actions to Manage Antisocial Cyberbehaviour. TechTrends 69, 111-124 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-024-01029-x

Hernández-Prados, M. Á., Álvarez-Muñoz, J. S., & Sánchez-Martínez, R. (2024). Educar en la empatía para construir una cultura de convivencia escolar. Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud, 22(2), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.11600/rlcsnj.22.2.5983

Külekçi Akyavuz, E. (2020). Conflict situations teachers experience and their use of conflict management strategies. Hacettepe University Journal of Education, 35(3), 511-525. https://doi.org/10.16986/HUJE.2019056768

López-Noguero, F., Gallardo-López, J. A., & Muñoz-Villaraviz, D. (2022). Inteligencia emocional en 5º y 6º de Educación Primaria: Percepción, comprensión y regulación. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology, 21(2), 257-290. https://doi.org/10.25115/ejrep.v21i60.7868

Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., ... Moher, D. (2021). Declaración PRISMA 2020: una guía actualizada para la publicación de revisiones sistemáticas. Revista Española de Cardiología, 74(9), 790-799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.recesp.2021.06.016

Palomares Prieto, I., Garvi-Medrano, P. M., & Fernández-Río, J. (2024). El modelo de aprendizaje cooperativo para la mejora de inteligencia emocional en alumnado de educación primaria. Retos, 59, 750-758. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v59.104140

Parker-Shandal, C., & Bickmore, K. (2020). Classroom peace circles: Teachers’ professional learning and implementation of restorative dialogue. Teaching and Teacher Education, 95, 103129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2020.103129

Piazuelo-Rodríguez, I., & Íñiguez-Berrozpe, T. (2025). School Connectedness Como Factor Diferenciador En La Convivencia Escolar En Un Entorno Intercultural. Un Estudio De Caso. International Journal of Sociology of Education, 14(1), 21-39. https://doi.org/10.17583/rise.15528

Rivera-Mancebo, M. C., Gutiérrez, D., Segovia, Y., & Valenciano Valcárcel, J. (2020). Efecto del modelo de Educación Deportiva sobre la conducta prosocial en escolares de Educación Primaria. Cultura, Ciencia y Deporte, 15(46), 561-574. https://doi.org/10.12800/ccd.v15i46.1626

Rojas-Andrade, R., Lopez Leiva, V., Varela, J. J., Soto García, P., Álvarez, J. P., & Ramirez, M. T. (2024). Feasibility, acceptability, and appropriability of a national whole-school program for reducing school violence. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1395990. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1395990

Saleh, M. N. I., Hanum, F., & Rukiyati. (2025). Approaches to implementing peace education in high schools for nonviolent conflict resolution. Cogent Education, 12(1), 2553004. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2553004

Santamaría-Villar, M. S., Gilar-Corbí, R., Pozo-Rico, T., & Castejón, J. L. (2021). Teaching Socio-Emotional Competencies Among Primary School Students: Improving Conflict Resolution. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 659348. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.659348

Serey, D., & Zúñiga, P. (2021). La convivencia escolar post COVID 19: una propuesta didáctica desde el coaching educativo. International Journal of Educational Research and Innovation, 15, 143-161. https://doi.org/10.46661/ijeri.5005

Smith-Palacio, E., Alcalá-Recuero, J., & Lamoneda-Prieto, J. (2022). Relación entre el autocontrol y las conductas disruptivas en escolares de educación primaria. Frontiers in Education, 7, 899433. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.899433

Soto-García, O., Sainz, V., Maldonado, A., & Calmaestra, J. (2024). The TEI Program for Peer Tutoring and the Prevention of Bullying: Relational competencies. Social Sciences, 13(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13010051

Svensson, M., Wagnsson, S., & Gustafsson, H. (2021). Swedish teachers’ experiences of using motivational interviewing in school: a qualitative content analysis. Educational Research, 63(4), 443-455. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2021.1895107

Downloads

Published

2026-07-01

Issue

Section

Reviews

How to Cite

Torres Ruiz, D. M., & Prado Delgado, V. M. (2026). Teacher Training and conflict management in Elementary Education: A Systematic Review of the Literature (2020–2025). EDUCA. International Journal for Educational Quality, 6(2), 1-29. https://doi.org/10.55040/e9zxrc88

Similar Articles

1-10 of 88

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.