Strengthening Parent Support in social-emotional Development of Gifted Child: A Mixed-Methods Randomized Experiment

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the social-emotional Development Support Parent Education Program (SEDSFP) for parents of gifted children. Method Forty-eight parents of children enrolled in two Science and Art Centers (BILSEM) in Türkiye participated in the program, and 44 parents completed it. We employed a mixed-methods design. In the quantitative phase, we tested the program's effectiveness using the Solomon Four-Group Design. In the qualitative phase, we analyzed data from focus group interviews. Results The quantitative findings showed that the program significantly enhanced parents’ awareness of their children's development. The qualitative findings revealed four themes: Group Process, Group Leader, Techniques and Contents, and Contribution to Development and Change. Discussion These findings indicate that SEDSFP helps parents better understand their gifted children and recognize effective strategies to support their social-emotional development.