Coping strategies adopted by adolescents: A comparative study in relation to gifted status, gender, and family size

Abstract

This study examines differences in coping strategies (CSs) in relation to gifted status, gender, and family size. Two hundred gifted adolescents were selected from gifted schools, and 1000 non-gifted adolescents were selected from ordinary schools. One-way multivariate analysis of variance produced significant differences among the subjects in relation to gifted status, gender, and family size. Descriptive discriminant analysis revealed that the CS “Seeking Professional Support” was the most significant to distinguish between gifted and non-gifted adolescents among the selected variables (i.e. gifted status, gender, and family size). Moreover, “Investing in Close Friend” was the most significant to distinguish between the participants in relation to gender. On the other hand, “Ventilating Feelings” contributed the most in distinguishing between the subjects in relation to family size.