Mental and Emotional Health of Gifted Students: The Role of Self-Esteem and Help-Seeking Behavior

This study aimed to investigate the role of self-esteem and help-seeking behavior in the mental health of gifted students. The study was conducted using a systematic review method. A search for articles in domestic (SID, Magiran, IranDoc) and foreign (Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed) databases was conducted between 2011 and 2025. The total number of relevant studies found was 3562, of which 700 were reviewed (abstract and title). 657 articles were excluded due to their irrelevance to this study and duplication in the database. Finally, 43 eligible articles (full text) were analyzed. The findings showed that high self-esteem is associated with reduced anxiety and depression and increased psychological well-being. A positive relationship was also observed between self-esteem and help-seeking behavior, and help-seeking as an adaptive strategy helps improve students' mental health. In addition, interventions such as teaching metacognitive strategies and promoting mental health literacy can contribute to increasing self-esteem and the tendency to seek help. Therefore, the present study aims to address this gap by conducting a comprehensive review. The results suggest that strengthening self-esteem and creating a suitable environment for promoting a culture of help-seeking in schools can play an important role in improving the mental health of gifted students. Future research focusing on long-term interventions tailored to cultural contexts is recommended.

Keywords: Adolescents, Gifted Students, Help-Seeking, Mental Health, Self-Esteem.