Although research on bullying has grown in scope in recent years, research specifically focused on gifted children’s experiences with bullying has been more limited. Studies of gifted children and bullying do exist, but the body of research in this specific area is not large. This article asserts that there are differences in the ways that gifted and nongifted middle school students communicate about bullying. This article examines quantitative differences in the ways middle school students who self-identify as gifted, and their peers who do not self-identify as gifted, disclose information about bullying. Data were collected from 343 middle school students at five different schools using the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. The study found that gifted students were more likely than general education students to disclose to their peers that they were being bullied but were not more likely than other children to communicate about bullying to their teachers or parents. These findings have important implications for schools and families as adults may underestimate bullying among the gifted. Additionally, these findings add to the literature supporting intervention programs that incorporate peer bystanders and add information to how we understand the importance of peers for gifted children.
