Comparison between gifted achievers and underachievers in personality factors

In our research we want to investigate personality traits in gifted primary school students (mean age=8.1 years, SD=1.82), divided in two groups: achievers and underachievers. Participants were divided in two groups: 11 gifted underachievers and 8 gifted achievers (mean QIT=136.2. SD=6.2). 18 normal children of the same age and gender of the other group (mean QIT = 105, SD=6.8). The participants has to complete the Big Five questionnaire (auto and hetero evaluation) and an Italian standardized research test that is addressed to primary school children. We found a significant difference between gifted achievers and underachievers: the latter have more relational and emotional problems and also have a low motivation and are less precise in their school context if compared with gifted achievers. Finally, gifted underachievers strain to underestimate their talents and capacity and give a description of themselves that is far from how their teachers consider them.