Emotional and behovioral characteristics of gifted children and their families

Aim: It has been found that gifted children have social, emotional, behavioral and mental health problems. In this study, it is aimed to compare quality of life, social, emotional, behavioral, psychological problems, and family functioning of gifted children and children with normal intelligence level.Method: 49 gifted children between the ages of 9-18 who attend Sıdıka Akdemir Science and Art Center and as a control group 56 children with normal intelligence from Ertuğrul Gazi Elementary School have been included to the study. Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (Kiddie and Young Adult Schedule for affective Disorders and Schizophrenia) K-SADS PL was implemented for exclusion of any psychiatric diagnosis in the study groups. WISC-R and Children? s Depression Rating Scale was implemented by clinician to children. Quality of Life Scale for Children (PedsQL), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-C), Children Depression Inventory (CDI), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) self-report form were completed by children; Family Assessment Device (FAD), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) Parent Form, Quality of Life Scale Parental Form were completed by parents.Results: In this study, gifted children have identified more deficits in attention and hyperactivity than children and adolescents with normal intelligence; stating a decline in social functioning and have perceived worse physical health status than non-gifted children while gifted boys had more depressive symptoms than gifted girls. Boys with normal intelligence were perceived as showing low school functioning by their parents; and it hasbeen observed that male children who had participated in the study had lower social functioning and higher peer relationship problems compared to the female children while female children were observed to be more socializing than males. Evaluated in terms of x family functioning, it was determined that family members of gifted children revealed adequate levels of attention, care and love to each other when compared to the control group.Conclusion: Determination of problematic areas regarding gifted children that have important impact on national development might contribute to the recognisation of these areas by child psychiatrists, in turn helping to identify the needs of these children in a right manner.Keywords: Gifted children and adolescent, quality of life, family functioning, anxiety, depression, social, emotional and behavioral problems