ERIC Number: EJ1133957
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0742-1656
EISSN: N/A
Projective Drawings of Individuals Grieving the Loss of a Pet
Packman, Wendy; Kelley, Elizabeth; Rudolph, Brittany; Long, Janet; Wallace, Jo; Hsu, Melanie; Carmack, Betty J.; Field, Nigel
Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, v34 n1 p29-37 2017
This study examined the relationship among projective drawings and mental health symptomatology to determine if projective drawings provide clinical utility in pet bereavement. Projective drawings, standardized questionnaires, and clinical interview results were collected from 33 adults grieving the loss of a pet. Drawings were coded into a psychosocial adjustment score based on formal artistic elements, specific indicators (e.g., placement of figure), subject portrayal, and use of space. Results showed that those with greater severity of grief and/or somatization displayed poorer psychosocial adjustment. In conjunction with behavioral observations and verbal reflections, projective drawings add clinical utility by introducing a nonverbal form of expression helpful in understanding the severity of grief and in opening up shared communication with those experiencing loss.
Descriptors: Freehand Drawing, Adults, Grief, Death, Animals, Mental Health, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Questionnaires, Likert Scales, Semi Structured Interviews, Coding, Emotional Adjustment, Social Adjustment, Scores, Nonverbal Communication, Severity (of Disability), Art Therapy, Projective Measures, Correlation, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Qualitative Research
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California (San Francisco)
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Brief Symptom Inventory
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A