This study is to grasp reaction characteristics of abused children and normal children by analyzing forms and contents of their tree drawing, and to check how abused children's psychological responses after being abused are presented on the tree drawi...
This study is to grasp reaction characteristics of abused children and normal children by analyzing forms and contents of their tree drawing, and to check how abused children's psychological responses after being abused are presented on the tree drawing.
Study subjects are, first, 50 abused children selected from elementary school students in 4th-6th grades who are reported as abused children by ○○ child-abuse prevention center in C area and, second, 50 normal children (males and females) selected from elementary school students in 4th-6th grades who received less than 60 of T-score on K-CBCL. Both groups of children took a tree drawing test.
Tree drawings were analyzed by a special index specifically designed for the study purposes based on Koch standard. Three art-therapy experts, who have practiced on clinical training and supervision for more than 1,000 hours, analyzed tree drawings in order to have an exact analysis and objectification. For a statistical analysis of the data collected, SPSS WIN 12.0 was adopted to exhibit comparative reaction characteristics between the group of abused children and the group of normal children with frequency difference obtained by x²-verification.
The results of the study can be summarized as follows.
First, in formal analysis of the tree drawings, abused children tended to place the tree only at the sides, either left or right, use significantly many short lines, and draw with weak or dim lines.
Second, in content analysis, the trees that abused children drew show scars and knots on the tree stems or trunk with significant frequency, long but narrow stems and stalks, stalks with thicker ends with smaller middle, the father from the trunk the thicker the branches, unbalanced thicker stems with narrower branches, falling leaves or fruits, and peculiar trees. However, all these displayed less than 5 on their description frequency to indicate there is no real statistical significance on them.
Third, in psychological characteristics, stalks with thicker ends with smaller middle or the father from the trunk the thicker the branches show impulsion; shades and shadows of the trees exhibit withdrawal and anxiety; frequent ground lines display social relations. All these, however, showed less than 5 on their description frequency telling no real statistical significance on them, although it was possible to glimpse some psychological characteristics of abused children.
It can be concluded that tree drawing is a highly useful tool to comprehend psychological characteristics of abused children, physically or emotionally, and to provide an appropriate opportunity for therapists to intervene early in the abusive situation with swift and exact information on the abused clients.