Use of Self-Figure Drawing as an Assessment Tool for Child Abuse: Differentiating between Sexual, Physical, and Emotional Abuse

Children

Nisara Jaroenkajornkij¹  Bussakorn Binson²  Rachel Lev-Wiesel³ 

[1] Faculty of Creative Arts Therapies, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Av., Haifa 3498838, Israel;Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;The Emili Sagol Research Center for Creative Arts Therapies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel;

关键词: child abuse;    sexual abuse;    physical abuse;    emotional abuse;    self-figure drawing;   

DOI  :  10.3390/children9060868

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Child abuse is a worldwide phenomenon with adverse short- and long-term mental and physical negative consequences, with a huge gap between the prevalence of child abuse and disclosure rates. The study aimed to examine and validate the self-figure drawing as an assessment tool to differentiate between three forms of child abuse, i.e., child sexual abuse (CSA), child physical abuse (CPA), and child emotional abuse (CEA). Following the ethical approval, 1707 Thai children (13–18 years old) from the general population (schools) were asked to complete a self-report anonymous questionnaire consisting of four measures (Demographics, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), The Medical Somatic Dissociation Questionnaire (MSDQ), and The Disclosure of Trauma Questionnaire (DTQ)). After completion, they were asked to draw themselves. There was a significantly positive link between the reluctance to disclose and the experience of abuse, indicating that the more severe the abuse the higher the reluctance to disclose. The findings broaden the knowledge of movement and symbols as representations of inner personal conflictual material. Additionally, it substantiates self-figure drawing as an assessment tool and assists practitioners in early child abuse detection.

【 授权许可】

Unknown