Giftedness

Study on the well-being of children and young people in Flanders in relation to their cognitive (creative) skills and academic functioning .

Contribution to the development of a preventive policy for the Pupil Guidance Centers (CLB’s).

Partners:

  • Go for Happiness
  • Department of Youth Health Care, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
  • Center for the Study of Giftedness, Antwerp

Project started November 2009.

Duration: 4 years

Description:

Longitudinal study on the well-being and the use of (mental) health care of children and young people in Flanders, with specific attention to the subgroup with signs of giftedness.
First, operational terms of giftedness will be defined in consultation with experts in the field of well-being and giftedness of children and youngsters, as well as representatives from the field of education and the Pupil Guidance Centers.
On that basis a sample of children and youngsters will be selected from:

I. The so-called JOnG! cohort study from the Policy Research Centre Welfare, Health and Family
(SWVG), in which about 6000 children (0, 6 and 12 years old at the start of the study) are followed during at least three years, concerning health, development, behavior, education and use of (mental) health care facilities. This research takes place in 9 regions of Flanders (regions, as defined by “Kind en Gezin”), particularly: Brussels-North, Antwerp-North, Ghent, Geel, Genk, Ieper, Oostend, Oudenaarde and Tielt-Winge.

II. The Center for the Study of Giftedness (CBO), Antwerp, which under the guidance of Prof. T. Kieboom disposes of data concerning more than 3000 children and young people with characteristics of giftedness.
After informed consent of the parents and their children (when 12 or more years of age), data provided by Kind en Gezin (well baby clinics), schools, CLB’s, annual questionnaires and interviews are collected and analyzed.
The project fits in the policy of the Flemish government to develop and implement preventive strategies with regard to depression and suicide in young people. This happens on the one hand by examining if aforesaid subgroup of children and youngster represent a risk group for problems in the area of well being and for co-morbidity, and on the other side by its anchoring in existing structures among which the Policy Research Centre Welfare, Health and Family, the CLB’s, the project Prodia (task force on development of diagnostic protocols for the Pupil Guidance Centers) which all aim optimizing the guidance of children en young people.

Research questions and objectives:

Research questions:

  1. How do children, young people assess their well-being, both mentally and physical? How do parents, teachers and CLB-professionals assess the well-being of these children and youngsters?
  2. What is the relation between this well-being and indicators of school performance?
  3. What is the relation between this well-being and characteristics of giftedness?
  4. Can we identify high risk subgroups on that relationship?
  5. Which policy should a CLB conduct to optimize the guidance in this possible subgroup.

Objectives

Within the context of the JOnG! Study:

  • Epidemiology of the well-being in a subgroup of children and young people with striking cognitive skills;
  • (Mental) health care needs and consumption in this subgroup.

In dialogue with the project Prodia:

  • Defining of terms: well-being, giftedness;
  • Defining of methods and instruments to measure this terms in children and young people;
  • Defining of diagnostic criteria;
  • Cooperation with CLB’s for further exploration of well-being and cognitive skills of children and young people which were followed in this study.

Within the context of the Center for the Study of Giftedness, Antwerp:

  • Selection of 6 – and 12 – year olds;
  • Research according to the study protocol of the existing JOnG! cohortstudy.

Target group:
Children and young people in Flanders, with specific attention to children and young people with signs of giftedness.

Measuring points:

  • Indicators of well-being are questioned annually during three years;
  • Signs of exceptional cognitive and creative skills are questioned to select the subgroup of children and youngsters with specific characteristics.

Time plan:

Year 1:

  • Consultation, analysis of existing databases and preparation of the study protocol (1/12/2009- 30/11/2010)
  • Review of literature concerning the well-being of children and young people and its relation with their cognitive skills and school performances;
  • Meetings with the task force Prodia as mentioned above;
  • Analysis of relevant items of the first questionnaire in the cohorts of 6- and 12-year-olds from the JOnG! Study;
  • Exploration of the data base of the Center for the Study of Giftedness, Antwerp;
  • Design of a detailed research protocol;
  • Evaluation of the results of the first study-year.

Years 2 and 3: Study on the well-being of children/young people in relation to their cognitive skills and/or school performances (1/12/2010- 30/11/2012)

Year 4: Reporting of the study and development of a recommendation for CLB and schools.

 

Validation happens by

  • Prof. Karel Hoppenbrouwers, Department of Youth Health Care, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
  • Prof. Tessa Kieboom, Center for the Study of Giftedness, Antwerp.

 

Putting into practice:

The obtained information on well-being and use of (mental) health care facilities in the samples of the JOnG! study, will contribute to the outlining of a targeted Flemish policy with regard to the prevention and care for children and young people.

The information obtained from the research of (gifted) children and young people in Flanders, has been intended for optimizing the guidance of (gifted) pupils in the Pupil Guidance Centers.

 

 

This post is also available in: Dutch, French