A Study on Mental Health of Scientifically Gifted High School Males (SGM) and Females (SGF) *

Abstract

Good mental health is a prerequisite for self actualization; that is one can develop gifts and talents only if one is psychologically well-adjusted. Mental health refers to good social and emotional adjustment and positive self-concept. Research is minimal in the area of personality and self-concept for the Korean scientifically gifted high school students and the relationship between gender and self-concept of the gifted youngsters was found somewhat controversial in the literature. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to examine the personality of Korean scientifically gifted high school males (SGM) and females (SGF) and to compare the self-concept of these two groups of youngsters.

In this study, Mental health was measured by the Korean adapted MMPI, self-concept instrument, intelligence test, and standardized achievement test were administered to 68 10th through 12 grade scientifically gifted high school students of superior intelligence who have high IQ scores of 145.

Scientifically gifted males (SGM) and females (SGF) are more similar than different on mental health profiles, and those differences that exist generally are consistent with sex stereotypes in Korean culture. The results on MMPI scores showed both SGM and SGF were relatively free of maladjustment. There was only one sex difference for the sub scale of self-criticism out of 10 measures of self-concept SGM have a higher score on self-criticism sub scale than SGF (t = 1.99, p < 0.05). Two significant correlations between self-concept and intelligence referred to the positive relationship of a total score of intelligence with Personal self (r = 0.3097*) and Family self (r = 0.2847*). There were no significant correlations between self-concept and achievement. Implications are suggested for school programmings designed to facilitate the good personality and positive self-concept of SGM and SGF differently).

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