Perfectionism and Life Satisfaction in Gifted Students

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between gifted students' perfectionism and life satisfaction. It also aims to understand how perfectionism and life satisfaction differ according to variables such as gender, parental education level, number of siblings, and grade level for gifted students. The relational survey method, one of the quantitative research methods, was used. The sample of the study consists of 395 gifted 5th–8th grade students. The Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale and the Life Satisfaction Scale were used to collect data within the scope of this research. Some findings show that life satisfaction and positive perfectionism were high and negative perfectionism low among gifted secondary school students. When their positive perfectionism increases, their life satisfaction increases, and when their positive perfectionism decreases, their life satisfaction decreases. The life satisfaction of gifted students does not differ according to their gender, and negative perfectionism was significantly higher in girls. The life satisfaction of the gifted student who was the only child in the family was higher than that of the gifted student who had two or more siblings. The life satisfaction of the gifted student whose mother had a master's degree or above was higher than that of others. As gifted students move from 5th to 8th grade, their life satisfaction decreases and their negative perfectionism increases.