Sobredotação e comportamento disruptivo em contexto familiar

Abstract

This study is part of the research project entitled “Giftedness and the social and emotional well-being of the gifted.” Its main aim is to analyze the relation between giftedness and disruptive behavior in the family context, comparing a group of gifted children with a group of non-gifted children. An online questionnaire was administered to 41 parents, containing sociodemographic questions and the short version of the Conners Scale. The Conners Scale applied to parents is an instrument that assesses various child behaviors, which are subdivided into four subscales: oppositional behaviors (ECO), cognitive problems and inattention (EPCD), behaviors associated with excessive motor activity (EEAM) and behaviors associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (IDAH). Data were analysed with the Statistical Program for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS), in order to compare the group of gifted children with the group of non-gifted children, with regard to disruptive behaviors in the family context, also taking into account children’s and parents’ sociodemographic variables. For this purpose, the total score of the Conners Scale (TEC) was used, as well as its sub-scales ECO, EPCD, EEAM and IDAH. The main results reject the existence of significant differences in overall disruptive behaviors between the group of gifted children and the group of non-gifted children. However, it was found that the older the child or the more advanced he/she was in their school progression, the lower the recurrence of behaviors associated with EEAM. No significant differences were found in relation to the other subscales. Finally, there was a predominance of males in the gifted group, the opposite being true for the group of non-gifted children. For future studies, it would be relevant to apply semi-structured interviews to children and their parents, providing a more individualized approach in understanding children's disruptive behaviors.

Date of Award	17 May 2025
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Luísa Ribeiro (Supervisor) & Ana Márcia Vaz Serra Fernandes (Co-Supervisor)