"LIVING BEYOND LIMITS": NEUROGENIC INFLUENCES OF OVEREXCITABILITIES ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE HIGHLY GIFTED

Abstract

This study introduced the concepts of the inability to deal with or channel overexcitabilities to expand the giftedness research. Giftedness refers to outstanding levels of competence and aptitude in one or several domains. Based on neurogenic theories of sensory modulation and integration, it was hypothesized that gifted individuals (1) exhibit stronger overexcitabilities and sensitivities than average-intelligent individuals, (2) that these deteriorate their mental health and induce mental illness, (3) and (4) the inability to deal/ channel mediates the relation between overexcitabilities and mental health and illness. The design of the study was cross-sectional and descriptive (N=450). Highly gifted individuals (n=300) were recruited from Mensa and non-gifted college students (n=150) were recruited from the University of Groningen. The first and second hypotheses were tested using two and four independent T-tests, respectively. Four mediation analyses were conducted to test the mediational effects. The bootstrap sample was elevated to 5,000 to apply the analyses with more confidence. All hypotheses were supported. The mediational analyses were highly significant with medium to strong effect sizes. This study concludes that in the highly gifted the inability to deal with or channel overexcitabilities can explain varying levels of mental health and illness and is a major indicator in determining the influence of overexcitabilities on mental health and illness. Whether gifted individuals thrive in their lives may largely depend on their ability to channel overexcitabilities into success and innovation. As existing therapeutic practice - more often than not - fails the complexity of the gifted client, this thesis recommends interventions based on the Theory of Positive Disintegration to meet the needs of highly gifted individuals.