Abstract:

Just like ordinary adolescents, the intellectually gifted are also faced with problems that may, from their viewpoint, be extremely stressful. The school environment presents many stressful situations that must be coped with in a suitable manner, and a great many possible stressors may occur in connection with education and teaching and provide an impulse for the onset of stress. Stress has a fundamental effect on the psyche of the individual and his or her behaviour, performance at school and self-confidence. Not only may school performance be negatively impacted as a result of multiple stressors, but these may also be accompanied by personal problems, family problems and problems in other spheres. At such a sensitive time as adolescence, this may lead to a lack of interest, a loss of motivation, and even the “loss” of the given individual’s talent. The aim of this study was to determine what the most common stressors are among intellectually gifted pupils at prestigious grammar schools in Czech Republic in comparison with their average contemporaries.

Keywords:

Stressors, coping strategies, adolescence, talent, motivation.