{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]],"date-time":"2026-09-11T06:07:44Z","timestamp":1789106864392,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]],"date-time":"2026-09-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789084800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Service-learning is widely recognized as an active pedagogy in higher education, yet evidence on its differential effects across distinct formative dimensions, particularly in the early stages of professional training, remains limited. This study examined second-year psychology students\u2019 perceptions of service-learning experiences implemented in schools and social organizations at a regional university in southern Chile. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, a 57-item Likert-type survey covering 10 formative dimensions was combined with four open-ended questions analyzed through inductive thematic analysis (\n                    <jats:italic>N<\/jats:italic>\n                    =\u202f55). Quantitatively, ethical and professional responsibility and context and feasibility obtained the highest mean scores (both\n                    <jats:italic>M<\/jats:italic>\n                    =\u202f4.50 on a 1\u20135 scale), followed by critical reflection (\n                    <jats:italic>M<\/jats:italic>\n                    =\u202f4.25), whereas conceptual learning (\n                    <jats:italic>M<\/jats:italic>\n                    =\u202f4.16) and psychosocial intervention (\n                    <jats:italic>M<\/jats:italic>\n                    =\u202f3.79) received comparatively more moderate ratings. Thematic analysis identified five interconnected themes: theory-practice articulation, teamwork and socioemotional skills, ethical sensitization and empathy, contextual understanding of psychosocial problems, and initial approximation to the professional role, alongside recurring expressions of technical insecurity and recognition of training limits. The integration of both data sources suggests that service-learning is a particularly powerful device for fostering ethical dispositions, socioemotional competences, critical reflection and community engagement in early training, while its contribution to disciplinary knowledge and technical intervention competences is more moderate and dependent on specific pedagogical conditions. These findings have direct implications for the curricular design of service-learning in psychology programs, especially regarding the balance between ethical-relational outcomes and the consolidation of more advanced technical competences. Given the single-group post-intervention design and reliance on self-report measures, these findings reflect students\u2019 perceived learning and self-evaluations, highlighting key curricular considerations for service-learning in psychology education.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1916584","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]],"date-time":"2026-09-11T05:30:33Z","timestamp":1789104633000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Differential formative effects of service-learning in early psychology training: ethical, socioemotional and technical competences in a Chilean context"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Ana M.","family":"Ruiz-Ortega","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Psychology Program, Universidad de Ays\u00e9n","place":["Coyhaique, Chile"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Julia","family":"Cubillos Romo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Psychology Program, Universidad de Ays\u00e9n","place":["Coyhaique, Chile"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref2","volume-title":"Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom (ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report No. 1)","author":"Bonwell","year":"1991"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203964309","volume-title":"Rethinking Assessment in Higher Education","author":"Boud","year":"2007"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in psychology","volume":"3","author":"Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qual. Res. Psychol."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1080\/00221546.1996.11780257","article-title":"Implementing service learning in higher education","volume":"67","author":"Bringle","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. High. Educ."},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1037\/14803-000","volume-title":"Service Learning in Psychology: Enhancing Undergraduate Education for the Public Good","author":"Bringle","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4159\/9780674028845","volume-title":"The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design","author":"Bronfenbrenner","year":"1979"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.31619\/caledu.n33.143","article-title":"La formaci\u00f3n en psicolog\u00eda desde una perspectiva de competencias: una contribuci\u00f3n para el mejoramiento de la formaci\u00f3n universitaria en Chile","volume":"33","author":"Cabrera","year":"2010","journal-title":"Calid. Educ."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2361","DOI":"10.1007\/s11135-021-01218-3","article-title":"Mixed methods research in service-learning: an integrative systematic review","volume":"56","author":"Camilli Trujillo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Qual. Quant."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.1177\/105382591103400205","article-title":"A meta-analysis of the impact of service-learning on students","volume":"34","author":"Celio","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Exp. Educ."},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"287","DOI":"10.1007\/s12564-023-09833-5","article-title":"Exploring key service-learning experiences that promote students\u2019 learning in higher education","volume":"27","author":"Choi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Asia Pac. Educ. Rev."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1080\/00986280903172969","article-title":"Teaching and learning in the social context: a meta-analysis of service learning\u2019s effects on academic, personal, social, and citizenship outcomes","volume":"36","author":"Conway","year":"2009","journal-title":"Teach. Psychol."},{"key":"ref13","volume-title":"Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research","author":"Creswell","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"237","DOI":"10.3102\/0013189X15584327","article-title":"Measurement matters: assessing personal qualities other than cognitive ability for educational purposes","volume":"44","author":"Duckworth","year":"2015","journal-title":"Educ. Res."},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"405","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-8624.2010.01564.x","article-title":"The impact of enhancing students\u2019 social and emotional learning: a meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions","volume":"82","author":"Durlak","year":"2011","journal-title":"Child Dev."},{"key":"ref16","volume-title":"Where\u2019s the Learning in Service-Learning?","author":"Eyler","year":"1999"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1002\/ajcp.12264","article-title":"Toward an ethical reflective practice of a theory in the flesh: embodied subjectivities in a youth participatory action research mural project","volume":"62","author":"Fern\u00e1ndez","year":"2018","journal-title":"Am. J. Community Psychol."},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S5","DOI":"10.1037\/a0015832","article-title":"Competency benchmarks: a model for understanding and measuring competence in professional psychology across training levels","volume":"3","author":"Fouad","year":"2009","journal-title":"Train. Educ. Profes. Psychol."},{"key":"ref19","first-page":"2","volume-title":"Expanding Boundaries: Serving and Learning","author":"Furco","year":"1996"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"60","DOI":"10.54656\/vtkx3458","article-title":"Community as agency: community partner experiences with service learning","volume":"7","author":"Gerstenblatt","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Commun. Engag. Scholar."},{"key":"ref21","volume-title":"Service-Learning Essentials: Questions, Answers, and Lessons Learned","author":"Jacoby","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S27","DOI":"10.1037\/a0015833","article-title":"Competency assessment toolkit for professional psychology","volume":"3","author":"Kaslow","year":"2009","journal-title":"Train. Educ. Profes. Psychol."},{"key":"ref23","volume-title":"Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development","author":"Kolb","year":"1984"},{"key":"ref24","first-page":"50","article-title":"Traditional vs. critical service-learning: engaging the literature to differentiate two models","volume":"14","author":"Mitchell","year":"2008","journal-title":"Mich. J. Community Serv. Learn."},{"key":"ref25","volume-title":"Introducci\u00f3n a la Psicolog\u00eda Comunitaria: Desarrollo, Conceptos y Procesos","author":"Montero","year":"2004"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"339","DOI":"10.3390\/educsci13040339","article-title":"A keyword co-occurrence analysis of research on service learning: conceptual foci and emerging research trends","volume":"13","author":"Narong","year":"2023","journal-title":"Educ. Sci."},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.5294\/aqui.2012.12.3.5","article-title":"Aplicabilidad de los criterios de rigor y \u00e9ticos en la investigaci\u00f3n cualitativa","volume":"12","author":"Nore\u00f1a","year":"2012","journal-title":"Aquichan"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.4067\/S0718-22282012000100008","article-title":"Querer no basta: deberes \u00e9ticos en la pr\u00e1ctica, formaci\u00f3n e investigaci\u00f3n en psicolog\u00eda comunitaria","volume":"21","author":"Olivares","year":"2012","journal-title":"Psykhe"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.1177\/14757257231187532","article-title":"Skills and competencies gained from a psychology bachelor\u2019s degree: European graduates\u2019 perspectives","volume":"23","author":"Papageorgi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Psychol. Learn. Teach."},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.5027\/psicoperspectivas-vol20-issue2-fulltext-2465","article-title":"Aportes de la psicolog\u00eda comunitaria al fortalecimiento de la justicia social, democracia, bienestar y desarrollo sustentable","volume":"20","author":"Pavez","year":"2021","journal-title":"Psicoperspectivas"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.1002\/j.2168-9830.2004.tb00809.x","article-title":"Does active learning work? A review of the research","volume":"93","author":"Prince","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Eng. Educ."},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.1037\/0735-7028.36.4.347","article-title":"A cube model for competency development: implications for psychology educators and regulators","volume":"36","author":"Rodolfa","year":"2005","journal-title":"Prof. Psychol. Res. Pract."},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.54255\/lim.vol13.num25.840","article-title":"Acercamientos al v\u00ednculo universidad-comunidad: los procesos de formaci\u00f3n en psicolog\u00eda social comunitaria desde la sede de occidente, Universidad de Costa Rica","volume":"13","author":"Rojas Lizano","year":"2024","journal-title":"Rev. Liminales. Escrit. Sobre Psicol. Soc."},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"60","DOI":"10.15332\/22563067.9988","article-title":"Evaluation of a teaching-service model in psychology: program components and practitioners\u2019 competencies","volume":"21","author":"Roncancio-Moreno","year":"2025","journal-title":"Diversitas"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1568476","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1568476","article-title":"Building pre-service teachers\u2019 resilience through service-learning: an explanatory sequential mixed methods study","volume":"16","author":"S\u00e1nchez-Jim\u00e9nez","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref36","first-page":"1","article-title":"Formaci\u00f3n en psicolog\u00eda comunitaria para la intervenci\u00f3n psicosocial con personas mayores: Una experiencia de aprendizaje-servicio","volume-title":"Quad. Psicol.","author":"Sandoval","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"679561","DOI":"10.3389\/feduc.2021.679561","article-title":"Social, emotional, and behavioral skills: an integrative model of the skills associated with success during adolescence and across the life span","volume":"6","author":"Soto","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Educ."},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.20343\/teachlearninqu.2.1.81","article-title":"Methods of reflection about service learning: guided vs. free, dialogic vs. expressive, and public vs. private","volume":"2","author":"Sturgill","year":"2014","journal-title":"Teach. Learn. Inq."},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"390","DOI":"10.1080\/00131881.2020.1836987","article-title":"Becoming productive 21st century citizens: a systematic review uncovering design principles for integrating community service learning into higher education courses","volume":"62","author":"Tijsma","year":"2020","journal-title":"Educ. Res."},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1080\/00131881.2023.2181202","article-title":"Embedding engaged education through community service learning in HEI: a review","volume":"65","author":"Tijsma","year":"2023","journal-title":"Educ. Res."},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1007\/s10464-009-9227-y","article-title":"Multilevel community-based culturally situated interventions and community impact: an ecological perspective","volume":"43","author":"Trickett","year":"2009","journal-title":"Am. J. Community Psychol."},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"258","DOI":"10.1177\/00986283211021075","article-title":"What psychology students want from service-learning","volume":"49","author":"Valdez","year":"2022","journal-title":"Teach. Psychol."},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.5944\/empiria.16.2008.1388","article-title":"La eficiencia te\u00f3rica y metodol\u00f3gica de los dise\u00f1os multim\u00e9todo","volume":"16","author":"Verd","year":"2008","journal-title":"Empiria. Rev. Metodol. Cien. Social."},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.5027\/psicoperspectivas-Vol13-Issue2-fulltext-357","article-title":"La psicolog\u00eda social comunitaria en Am\u00e9rica Latina: \u00bfConsolidaci\u00f3n o crisis?","volume":"13","author":"Wiesenfeld","year":"2014","journal-title":"Psicoperspectivas"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.5027\/psicoperspectivas-Vol13-Issue2-fulltext-353","article-title":"Psicolog\u00eda comunitaria hoy: orientaciones \u00e9ticas para la acci\u00f3n","volume":"13","author":"Winkler","year":"2014","journal-title":"Psicoperspectivas"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1796279","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1796279","article-title":"Building a sense of community in service-learning and its association with college students\u2019 prosocial behavior and social responsibility","volume":"17","author":"Xiao","year":"2026","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.5465\/amle.2010.0072","article-title":"A meta-analysis on the effects of service-learning on the social, personal, and cognitive outcomes of learning","volume":"11","author":"Yorio","year":"2012","journal-title":"Acad. Manag. Learn. Educ."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1916584\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]],"date-time":"2026-09-11T05:30:35Z","timestamp":1789104635000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1916584\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]]},"references-count":47,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1916584"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1916584","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,11]]},"article-number":"1916584"}}