Life Satisfaction Levels of Gifted Students and Their Views on Life Satisfaction

The distinctive characteristics of gifted individuals give rise to a set of expectations that differ from those of the general population. Both these characteristics and whether their expectations of life are met can affect their perspectives on life and their life satisfaction. While it is crucial for all individuals to lead fulfilling lives and to experience personal satisfaction, it is also essential to understand the levels of satisfaction experienced by gifted students in their contributions to society. This study aimed to determine the life satisfaction levels of gifted students and their views on life satisfaction. In the study, exploratory sequential design, which is one of the mixed methods of research, was employed. Satisfaction with Life Scale Children (SWLS-C) was administered to 94 gifted secondary school students, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight of these students. The scale data were analyzed by independent samples t-test, and interview data were analyzed by content analysis. The results of the study show that the life satisfaction of those gifted students is above average and does not differ by gender. In addition, the gifted students reported that life satisfaction is living with pleasure and that their life satisfaction is most influenced by external factors. Further research examining different variables that may affect the life satisfaction of gifted students as mediating variables may help better determine the effect of these external factors.