The affective characteristics of gifted children : can peer victimisation make a difference?

Giftedness depends on the interaction of a high intellectual capacity, well developed affective traits and exposure to a facilitative environment. However, research has acknowledged that when a gifted individual's environment is unsupportive, their other qualities (e.g. affective traits and intellectual abilities) can be affected. Thus, the present research aimed to assess whether peer victimisation was a type of unsupportive environment that could be associated with diminished affective characteristics of gifted students. Eighty gifted students completed four questionnaires (Reynolds Bully Victimisation Scale, Self- Description Questionnaire II, Student Motivation Survey and Social Coping Questionnaire). The results identified that 46% of participants experienced significant levels of victimisation. The results also illustrated that the experience of victimisation was significantly associated with diminished levels of self-concept, motivation and social coping. Overall, the findings of this study suggested that peer victimisation was a specific social stressor that can negatively impact gifted individuals' affective traits.