Comparison of psychological distress, mindfulness and academic self-efficacy in gifted and normal students

The aim of this study was to compare psychological distress (stress, depression, anxiety), mindfulness, and academic self-efficacy among gifted and normal students. The research design was descriptive and causal-comparative. The statistical population of the study included all first-year high school students in Ardabil in the academic year of 2019-2020. 200 students (100 gifted students - 100 normal students) were selected by multi-stage cluster random sampling. Data were collected using Levinda Psychological Distress Questionnaire (DASS-21), Brown and Ryan Mindfulness Questionnaire (MASS), and the Jenkins and Morgan Academic Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (ASEQ) and analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The results showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups in the variables of psychological distress, mindfulness, and academic self-efficacy (P<0.01). Mindfulness and academic self-efficacy of gifted students were significantly higher than normal students and psychological distress of gifted students was significantly lower than normal students (P <0.01). Based on the findings of the present study, it can be stated that the variable of intelligence has an important role in mindfulness, academic self-efficacy, and psychological distress.