Depression, suicide, and giftedness: Disentangling risk factors, protective factors, and implications for optimal growth

Although exact incidences of depression and suicide among the gifted remain unknown, they are most likely in line with that of the larger student population. In the present chapter, we invoke two theoretical frameworks-person-environment fit theory and the Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent Development-to understand how intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, and developmental risk and protective factors manifest uniquely for gifted student populations. To better reflect the current status of gifted student development in the twenty-first century, we place special emphasis on two recent trends: social media use and cyberbullying, in addition to reviewing traditional literature as it relates to risk and protective factors. We place much emphasis on understanding possible unique contributors to the development of depression and suicide ideation among gifted students, but also on providing strategies for helping parents, teachers, and other caregivers. Implications of this chapter are for those who are interested in developing intervention strategies that consider developmental as well as epidemiological factors when exploring depression and suicide among the gifted

Changes in Teachers' Involvement Versus Rejection and Links with Academic Motivation During the First Year of Secondary Education: A Multilevel Growth Curve Analysis

Research consistently shows that the learning environment plays an important role for early adolescents' learning and outcomes and suggests that good teacher-student relationships can serve as a protective factor for maintaining young adolescents' interest and active engagement in learning. However, less is known about the dynamic nature of teacher-student relationships and how they link with academic motivation development. Furthermore, little is known about the nature and the effects of teacher-student relationships in a cross-national context. The present study investigated changes in two components of teacher-student relationships (teachers' involvement vs. rejection) and examined links with students' academic motivation during the first grade of secondary school. Ten Dutch and ten Indonesian teachers (65 % female) from 24 classes were videoed 12 times across the school year, and four videos for each class were selected randomly and coded on teachers' involvement versus rejection. A total of 713 students (52 % girls) completed four-wave measures of their academic motivation after each video observation. Multilevel growth curve modeling revealed that the teacher's involvement changed in a curvilinear way and decreased across the first year of secondary education, while changes in the teacher's rejection did not follow a linear time function. Academic motivation changed in an undesirable way: controlled motivation increased, while autonomous motivation decreased over time. Teachers' involvement had a unique contribution in preventing high levels of controlled motivation in both countries. Findings suggest that teacher-student relationships (teachers' involvement) play an essential role in early adolescents' motivation regardless of the nations and should be a priority for schools