Giftedness and family well-being: the role of emotional intelligence, perceived social support and stress

Abstract

Background: Families of gifted students may have poorer well-being due to difficulties in parenting. Emotional intelligence could help parents manage negative emotions and improve their self-esteem, and perceived social support and stress could mediate this relationship. The objective of this study was to analyze these variables by testing a mediation model in parents of gifted children and parents in general. Method: Questionnaires assessing emotional intelligence, stress, perceived social support, affect and self-esteem were administered to 245 parents (135 had gifted children). Descriptive analyses were performed, mean differences were calculated, and structural equation models (SEMs) were developed and tested. Results: Compared with parents in general, the parents of the gifted students reported more negative experiences (Cohen's d = 0.75; p < .01) and less social support from their friends (Cohen's d = 1.54; p < .01). Social support and stress partially mediated the relationship between emotional intelligence and well being. For parents of gifted students, there was partial mediation of social support through positive affect. Conclusions:Providing families with tools to promote their emotional intelligence and conducting awareness campaigns focused on understanding and supporting gifted groups will contribute to parents' well-being.

Antecedentes: Las familias de estudiantes con altas capacidades pueden tener menor bienestar dadas las dificultades en la crianza. La inteligencia emocional podría ayudarles a manejar las emociones negativas y mejorar su autoestima. Apoyo social percibido y estrés podrían mediar esta relación. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar dichas variables, testando un modelo de mediación en progenitores con descendientes con alta capacidad y progenitores en general. Método: Se administraron cuestionarios de inteligencia emocional, estrés, apoyo social percibido, afectos y autoestima a 245 progenitores (135 tenían descendientes con altas capacidades). Se realizaron análisis descriptivos, de diferencias de medias y modelos de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM). Resultados: Los progenitores de estudiantes de altas capacidades señalaron más experiencias negativas (d de Cohen = 0.75; p < .01) y percibieron menor apoyo social de sus amistades (d de Cohen = 1.54; p < .01). Apoyo social y estrés mediaron parcialmente la relación entre inteligencia emocional y bienestar. En progenitores de estudiantes con altas capacidades hubo mediación parcial del apoyo social con afecto positivo. Conclusiones: Dotar a las familias de herramientas para fomentar su inteligencia emocional y realizar campañas de sensibilización centradas en la comprensión y apoyo al colectivo de altas capacidades contribuirá a su bienestar.