The Relationship Between Children’s Overexcitabilities and Temperament

The study examined differences in overexcitabilities between gifted and typical children and the potential conceptual overlap between temperament and overexcitabilities (OE). Parents of children ages 7 to 13 completed the Temperament in Middle Childhood and ElemenOE Questionnaires. Parents of gifted children reported significantly higher overexcitability in their children. Results of a canonical correlation analysis revealed statistical overlap between OE and temperament measures. Based on this analysis, the total shared variance associated with the statistically significant canonical correlations was 92% for OE and Surgency, 81% for OE with Effortful Control, and 72% for OE with Negative Affect. These preliminary findings suggest the need for further research examining the relationship between overexcitabilities and temperament.