Using Drawing Test To Assess The Thndency Of Depression In Adolescence

ObjectiveThe current research utilized painting tests in adolescents in order to analyse the characteristics in paintings statistically. In addition, this research aimed to evaluate whether or not using painting tests to measure adolescent depression is scientific. Moreover, the current study summarized the features that illustrated tendencies of depression in adolescents in their paintings. Finally, this researcher evaluated the effectiveness of painting tests in adolescent psychological assessments.Methods755participants in the current study were randomly selected from three secondary schools in Heilongjiang Province. All participants were asked to answer the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and draw pictures including tree, people and house. Referring to the relevant literatures, the Operating Manual, and combining with experts’advices,62characteristics in the paintings that can reflect tendencies of depression were coded. Moreover, according to participants’scores in the CDI, they were divided into two groups:depression group and control group. Then, the researcher compared the differences of characteristics in paintings between two groups. Finally, all data were analysed by χ2test and Logistic regression in SPSS17.0software.ResultsIn total,26.48%participants were detected as depressive adolescents in the current research.The results of χ2test showed that a total of31features have significant differences (statistical significance). In addition, depressive symptoms are associated with shadows, the sizes of image, the slopes of image, windows and doors, simple drawing, absent expression and other characteristics on the images.According to the results of logistic regression,11features that are included in the regression equation can be interpreted as a valid indicator of depression (R=0.763, the accuracy was87.2%). Results from the interaction detection showed that the composition (position) can be seen as the main indicator to determine whether or not adolescents are depressive. Moreover, appendages type, line shading, erasing traces can also be used as evaluation factors of depression (R2=0.876, the accuracy was93.2%).ConclusionAccording to the results, it is scientific to utilize painting tests to measure adolescent depression. Painting tests are easy to manipulate, occult purposes of test, not limited by educational levels, reflecting the hidden psychological problems in painters directly. On the other hand, there are several disadvantages of painting tests that cannot be neglected. For instance, the results of painting tests can be mostly influenced by judges’subjective opinions and previously clinical experiences. Also, other factors such as cultural background and previous painting training can interfere the results of painting tests.