A Gift to Address the Double-Edged Sword of Giftedness: Pilot Evaluation of the D.R.E.A.M. Program for Gifted Elementary School-Age Children

Abstract

Up to 30 to 40 percent of gifted children experience mental health concerns, compared to up to 20 percent of non-gifted children. The unique qualities of gifted children, such as emotional intensities, asynchronous development, and perfectionism may put them at greater risk for concerns. The current study is a pilot program evaluation of the D.R.E.A.M. program (Developing Resilience through Emotions, Attitudes, and Meaning), designed to address the needs of gifted and profoundly gifted children between the ages of 6 to 12 years. Participants completed pre-test and post-test questionnaires to measure factors that the program is designed to target: mental health, emotion regulation through agency over thoughts and behaviour, self-esteem, hope for the future, and openness to learning and other experiences. The 10 brief units in the D.R.E.A.M. program are comprised of songs and creative activities that are grounded in Logotherapy, Attachment and Rational Emotive Behaviour theories. From pre-test to post-test, there was a statistically significant increase in self-reported meaning (agency, self-esteem, hope, and openness) and mental health (significant decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety, obsessions, perfectionism and behavioural concerns, as well as enhanced reported social connected). We carried out this program in partnership with the Association for Bright Children, Ottawa branch. Further research will serve to implement the D.R.E.A.M. program with a broader audience and establish an online tool for ease of use in schools and the community.