Childhood Depression and the Draw-a-Person Test

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The present study assessed the usefulness of employing the Goodenough-Harris Draw-A-Person Test for investigating depressive symptoms in children. Subjects were 166 boys and 182 girls whose combined mean age was 10.53 yr. ( SD = .78). Structural characteristics obtained from the group-administered test were size of figure drawn, vertical placement of figure on a page, and intensity of lines drawn. Depression was assessed by three independent methods: peer nominations, self-ratings, and teacher assessments. No significant relationships were obtained between intensity of line, vertical placement, and depression. A significant negative relationship was obtained between size of figure drawn and teacher-rated depression, for girls only. Present findings are consistent with previous research questioning the validity of utilizing structural characteristics of human figure drawing for assessing depression in children.