Longitudinal Patterns of Psychosocial Strengths Among High-Ability Students: Findings From a Career Development Program

• In Event: Measurement Scales and Psychosocial Development

Abstract

The gifted and talented program, Talent Identification and Career Exploration (TICE), explored domain-specific psychosocial strengths among high-ability middle school students in a U.S. Midwestern state. To understand how individual strengths varied across domains, we aimed to identify patterns among students based on their domain-specific psychosocial strengths over the TICE program. Students self-reported their STEM and Humanities psychosocial strengths, including academic self-efficacy, outcome expectations, interests, and goals, at two time points. Data from 111 students were used for k-means cluster analysis and chi-squared analysis. Based on STEM and Humanities psychosocial strengths, three patterns were identified, which varied across student race. This study informs the development of individualized support to enhance high-ability students’ psychosocial strengths.

Authors

• Yuqing Zou, University of New Mexico - Gallup

• Kathryn Watson, Appalachian State University

• Emmett Olson, University of Iowa

• Duhita Mahatmya, University of Iowa

• Saba R. Ali, University of Iowa

• Megan Foley Nicpon, University of Iowa

• Susan G. Assouline, University of Iowa