Examining Depression Levels Among Gifted Individuals

OpenAlex English

The aim of this study was to examine the depression levels of gifted adolescents and to investigate the predictive roles of self-regulation skills, peer relationships, parental attitudes, and self-compassion. The research sample consisted of 497 gifted adolescents (265 females, 206 males, and 26 participants who did not report their gender) attending Science and Art Centers in Turkey. Findings showed that depression levels were moderate and significantly differed by gender, with gifted females reporting higher levels of depression than gifted males. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that depression levels were predicted by psychological autonomy, self-coldness, and the peer relationship dimensions of help, protection, and conflict. These variables collectively explained approximately 62% of the variance in depression levels. Further analyses indicated gender-specific patterns. For gifted male adolescents, depression levels were primarily predicted by self-coldness and protection (negatively), accounting for 66% of the variance. In contrast, for gifted female adolescents, depression levels were predicted by self-coldness, help (negatively), and conflict (positively), explaining 60% of the variance. Across both genders, self-coldness emerged as the strongest predictor of depression levels.