Foundations for the future:The socio‐emotional development of gifted, adolescent women

Abstract

Numerous phenomena which influence adult women of gifted and average ability are described in the literature. This study investigated the existence of and, if applicable, the extent of these phenomena in gifted, adolescent women. The five participants attended the sixth, seventh, or eighth grade, and they were chosen due to their interest in participation in a study of the adjustment and development of gifted students. Over a 12 month period, data were gathered through interviews with the adolescent, young women and their peers, teachers, and relatives, observations of the adolescent, young women both in and out of school; and examination of school records, including grades and test scores. Barriers or the potential emergence of barriers to achievement in the lives of these young women were examined. In addition, factors which seem to mitigate against the influence of those barriers were explored. Problem‐solving ability and family support were identified as factors which may help these young women cope with current and future barriers to success.