Bullying perceptions of gifted students who are exposed to bullying

Bullying is a universal phenomenon with serious effects on individuals in terms of causes and consequences. According to research, many people are involved in bullying as bullies, victims or bystanders. Particularly, individuals in victim roles are subject to bullying due to their individual differences. These causes of bullying can be classified into such categories as age, gender, physical characteristics, academic success, and intelligence. Gifted individuals are also exposed to bullying due to their individual characteristics. Studies with this group of individuals demonstrated them as bullies, bystanders and more commonly as victims of bullying. However, research related to bullying among gifted students lacks in-depth analysis. Therefore, in this study, how gifted students percieved bullying, how they dealt with bullying and causes leading them to be exposed to bullying were examined. "Peer Bullying Scale – Adolescence Form" was used to screen gifted students with potential bullying experience. Participants included 6th, 7th and 8th graders who were attending Education Programs for Talented Students (ÜYEP) at the Center for Research and Practice for High-Ability Students and Emine-Emir Şahbaz Science and Art Center (BİLSEM) in Eskisehir. A total of 11 students were identified with the highest scores on the scale. As a part of phenomenological reasearch design, interviews with the 11 participants and their school counsellors were conducted. Analysis of these interviews revealed five main findings. Results showed that participants evaluated bullying in accordance with their experience, showing signs of being bullied frequently in their schools. However, they were not bullied in gifted education programs. They were inadequately dealing with bullying. They believed that jealousy was the main reason they were bullied by others.