Psychological and Social Challenges Facing Gifted Students: Parents' Perspective

The study identified the most common psychological and social challenges characteristics among gifted students based on parents' perspective. In addition, the study examined the differences on the psychological and social challenges characteristics among gifted students based on education types (public and private schools). The sample consisted of 143 parents whose children were classified as gifted students based on Mawhiba Multiple Cognitive Aptitude Test at primary and secondary school levels. The researcher used t-test and ANOVA to analyze the data. The most prevalent psychological and social challenges among gifted students were as follows: high expectations from parents and teachers, increased sense of responsibility towards oneself and towards, the neurotic perfectionism, fear of failure, lack of patience with others, and low motivation. The researcher found that there were statistically significant differences between gifted students in public and private schools in the following challenges: stress, intensity of self-criticism, sensitivity to criticism, high level of psychological challenge, difficulty coping with the new environment, psychological loneliness, lack of patience with others, and difficulties in making friends. The researcher recommends conducting other studies to measure gifted students’ and teachers’ perspectives on the psychological and social challenges in the current study.