A recent study conducted by researcher Abdullah Ibrahim Abdullah Al Mulla, a graduate student at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), has explored the effectiveness of a counselling programme based on choice theory and realistic therapy for gifted students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The study aimed to measure the effectiveness of the programme in reducing the level of parental expectations, improving psychological flexibility, and enhancing academic self-efficacy among gifted students. The research sample consisted of 15 gifted students who were identified as suffering from the pressure of high expectations compared to their peers.

The programme was implemented over a period of eight weeks, with each session lasting 50 minutes. The researchers used the High Expectations Pressure Scale, personal psychological flexibility, and academic self-efficacy scales to collect data before and after the programme. The psychometric properties of the scales were verified prior to application.

The results of the study showed that the programme was effective in reducing the level of pressure from high expectations and increasing both psychological flexibility and academic self-efficacy among the gifted students. The study also revealed that the participants’ evaluation of the programme was highly positive.

Additionally, Mr Al Mulla recommended providing guidance programmes based on choice theory and realistic therapy for gifted students to help them deal with the challenges they face, including psychological pressures from high expectations. He also emphasised the importance of developing and enhancing the level of psychological flexibility among gifted students to help them cope with life pressures and achieve their personal goals.

The study’s findings highlight the need for schools to provide counselling programmes that cater to the specific needs of gifted students, taking into account their unique characteristics and challenges.

During the discussion of the study, Mr Al Mulla recommended that schools should adopt a holistic approach to counselling, focusing on not only mental cognitive aspects, but also emotional and social aspects.

The study was supervised by Prof. Alaaeldin Ayoub, Professor of Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics at AGU, as the primary supervisor, and Prof. Fatema Ahmed Al Jasim, Gifted and Thinking Education Professor at AGU, as a co-supervisor.