ABSTRACT Self-esteem is a positive state of mind that enables adolescents to see themselves as valuable, successful, and worthy of love. Adolescents with high self-esteem exhibit greater self-confidence, enhanced social adaptability, and higher levels of happiness and success. While numerous studies examine self-esteem among typical adolescents, research on self-esteem in gifted adolescents still needs to be completed. This study aims to systematically analyze studies on self-esteem in gifted adolescents, examining their bibliometric characteristics. Accordingly, a literature search was conducted in the Web of Science and Scopus databases from April 2023 to August 2024 using the keywords “Self-esteem,” “Gifted,” and “Adolescent,” and a sample of 10 studies was selected based on sampling criteria. The review was performed using document analysis and bibliometric mapping techniques. Findings indicate that all selected studies utilized quantitative research methods and identified self-esteem as an important factor influencing the mental health of gifted adolescents. The bibliometric analysis revealed that most studies were conducted in France, with the most frequently cited study being by Foley-Nipcon et al. (2012), published in the journal L’Encéphale. The impact of self-esteem on the mental health of gifted adolescents and the factors influencing self-esteem in this population remain relevant research areas.

ABSTRACT Existing literature has shown that kindness matters for well-being. Although prior studies demonstrated gender differences in how kindness relates to well-being – with females receiving greater benefits than males–, there is scant evidence of the link of kindness to life satisfaction over time, especially in gifted and high-ability student populations. This study examined the associations among kindness, social self-efficacy, and life satisfaction among high-ability adolescent girls via a two-wave cross-lagged panel design. Results of a cross-lagged panel structural equation modeling demonstrated that Time 1 kindness was linked to higher Time 2 social self-efficacy. Time 1 life satisfaction was associated with greater Time 2 social self-efficacy. However, Time 1 kindness did not predict Time 2 life satisfaction. This research suggests that kindness can serve as a potential pathway to greater confidence in establishing and maintaining relationships among girls with high academic abilities.

ABSTRACT Regulatory processes are pervasive on many levels in talent development, yet neither a systematic analysis of their role in talent development let alone a comprehensive model have been presented to date. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the diversity and complexity of regulatory processes in talent development and to provide a conceptual framework. The proposed nonagonal framework of regulation in talent development (NFRTD) distinguishes nine dimensions for the analysis of regulation in talent development: regulatory network (neutral, co-operative, competitive, hybrid, and panarchic), regulatory function (homeostasis and homeorhesis), control type (external, internal-automatic, and internal-controlled), regulatory type (open-loop control and closed-loop control), regulatory form (iterative and recursive), regulatory activities (preventive, detective, and corrective), regulated structures (exogenous and endogenous learning resources), regulatory side-effects (neutral, synergetic, destructive, catalytic, exploitative, and allostatic), and regulatory externalities (neutral, iatrogenic, and autocatalytic). The last section discusses the status of the nonagonal framework and hints at some fields of application.

ABSTRACT In this article, we introduce a systemic framework for the development of learning potential to professional excellence inspired by the Actiotope model of giftedness. First, we critically reflect on three theoretical approaches representing different psychological constructions of learning potential. We label these approaches theories of giftedness, theories of practice, and theories of motivation. We explore contradictory ways in which these theories construct key factors that determine the successful development of human potential. Based on this comparison, we discuss the limitations of these theories stemming from their philosophical, methodological, and ideological backgrounds, including disproportionate emphasis on selected developmental factors, implicit one-way causality, and the dominant role of an individual over social influences. We further argue that the contradictory conclusions of these approaches may be reconciled within a systemic framework that acknowledges the reciprocal interactions between the key developmental factors proposed by these approaches, including learning outcomes, achievement motivation, practice and the social environment (including developmental resources and demands). We apply our systemic model in the context of the development of academic careers, in which we document the importance of the proposed components and how their interactions result in the processes of “cumulative advantage”, as well as the context-dependency of the model.

ABSTRACT This introductory paper to the special issue of High Ability Studies aims to provide a “guide for the perplexed” relating to self-regulated learning (SRL) theory, research, and applications. We begin by defining SRL and its key cyclical stages and criterial attributes. We move on to discuss a number of motivational and meta-motivational constructs supporting SRL. We then briefly present a number of issues related to teaching and promoting SRL. Finally, we review research shedding light on SRL in gifted, high ability, and high achieving students.

ABSTRACT The ability to self-regulate learning (SRL) is a skill theorized to transfer across learning environments. Students with this ability can consider a learning task, identify a goal, develop a plan to achieve it, execute that plan, and monitor and adapt learning until the goal is met. This paper examines the educational implications of developing the SRL expertise of high and typical-ability students, as operationalized by high school performance, who entered college and struggled with mathematics in their 1st year. Students who initially failed a 6-week intensive college math course completed a 3-h SRL training mid-semester and re-engaged in math learning with an adaptive problem-solving program and resources hosted on a course website. Students trained to evaluate tasks, plan, employ cognitive strategies, and monitor learning behaved distinctly from those who completed a math refresher course. Non-parametric, comparative analyses revealed that SRL-trained students more efficiently mastered math topics during digital problem-solving, demonstrating superior learning efficiency. Under a sequential explanatory mixed methods design, a follow-up multiple case study approach aligned to the Situated Model of SRL traced adaptive learning processes employed by multiple high-ability self-regulators and contrasted them with learning processes of exemplar learners from the untrained group.

There are two competing stereotypes of gifted students: harmony theory (gifted students are well adjusted and successful in life) and disharmony theory (giftedness forms a threat to a harmonious development). In this context, the PISA 2012 data were used to explore middle-school students’ experiences in terms of sense of belonging, student–teacher relations and attitudes toward school concerning learning activities/outcomes. Fifteen-year-old students from 13 European countries were selected for this data-set (normative = 79,550, gifted = 1956). Student’s scores on the four scales were tested for significant differences with students from that same country. Tests revealed no significant differences for 55% of the comparisons, 40% of comparisons had positive effect sizes for gifted students, and 4% had negative effect sizes. The evidence presented in this study supports the existence of harmony theory. More specifically, the vast majority of gifted students in this study reported equal or higher level of belonging. Contained within the findings in this study on students’ to the sense of belonging is a lack of evidence of gifted students reporting higher levels of loneliness. These findings strongly reflect the Terman’s assertion almost a century ago stating the lack of gifted children tending to be more socially maladjusted.

There are many factors that go into high educational and occupational achievement, including hard work, motivation, and luck. But how important is talent? Specifically, how likely were global innovators and leaders intellectually talented or gifted when younger? This paper reviews retrospective data on multiple US samples (Total N = 11,745), including Chief Executive Officers, federal judges, politicians, multi-millionaires and billionaires, business leaders, elite journalists, and the “most globally powerful men and women”, examining to what extent these groups were in the top 1% in general intellectual talent in youth, also examining their educational backgrounds. About 50% of these leaders were in the top 1% of our indicator of ability, so overrepresented by a factor of about 50. Elite education, and especially the impact of Harvard, was notable, suggesting that in addition to talent, elite education and networks were important. These data suggest that various occupations may draw from different levels of intellectual giftedness. Based on this data and a synthesis of prior literature, concrete policy recommendations for gifted education are provided. We recommend a policy focus on talented low income and disadvantaged students, who are greatly underrepresented among these leaders of US society.