Profiles of Hope in Gifted Turkish Adolescents: Associations With Psychosocial and Academic Outcomes

• In Event: Developing Psychosocial Skills

Abstract

We explored how hope, a cognitive-motivational construct defined by agency and pathways thinking, relates to academic and psychosocial outcomes among gifted and talented adolescents in Turkey. Using latent profile analysis, two hope profiles were identified: Hopeful and Low Hope. Whereas hope was unrelated to academic achievement, it was meaningfully associated with self-esteem, motivation, well-being, and lower depressive symptoms. Students with low hope reported greater distress despite high academic performance, indicating that psychosocial experiences vary widely within gifted populations. These findings challenge assumptions of self-sufficiency and highlight the need to cultivate hope as part of holistic talent development. Aligning with the AERA 2026 theme of equitable futures, the study calls for educational systems to address emotional well-being alongside achievement in gifted youth.

Authors

• Ilke Bayazitli, University of California - Berkeley

• Linsey B. Cohen, University of California - Berkeley

• Hetvi Desai, University of California - Berkeley

• Golzar Ejadi, University of California - Berkeley

• Mark B. Pommer, University of California - Berkeley

• Carlos Isaac Rivera, University of California - Berkeley

• Raymond Quang Vo, University of California - Berkeley