Social coping among gifted elementary school students

Research has indicated that gifted adolescents use a variety of measurable social coping strategies to mitigate perceived negative social effects of being identified as gifted in school. The precocious development of gifted children suggests that similar strategies also might be used by gifted elementary school students. Two studies of gifted 3rd through 7th graders who enrolled in a summer academic program explored the possibility that social coping strategies can be adequately measured among gifted elementary students. Study 1 provided a good replication of results from studies of gifted adolescents, and Study 2 replicated Study 1. Six social coping strategies, very similar to those identified in studies of gifted adolescents, were identified: denying giftedness, minimizing focus on popularity, social interaction, humor, conformity, and denying an impact of giftedness on peer acceptance. The last two scales were unreliable with young students, however. No consistent gender differences. in social coping were found, but comparisons by grade level indicated that older students are more focused on popularity than are younger students.