Evaluation of Psychological Effects of Coronavirus and Subsequent Quarantine on Children with Using Drawing Tests: A Case Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master Student of General Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Clinical Department, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health of individuals. especially children, is one of the important priorities of any society; Therefore, identifying and examining the factors affecting it is very important. The present article examines the psychological effects of coronavirus and subsequent quarantine on this important and vulnerable group.

Methods: Using a case study method, four sixth-graders who had been under house quarantine for two months were studied and in order to better understand the psychological problems of children, a combination of drawing tests, including Tree Drawing Test (TDT), Draw A Person test (DAP) and animal drawing test were used to collect data.

Results: The results of the analysis and interpretation of the drawings indicate the existence of anxiety and fear, low vitality, aggression and hostility, lack of and search for a sense of security, and inhibition, inefficiency, doubt and passivity. Depressive symptoms were not significantly present in the drawings.

Conclusion: The results showed that the coronavirus and quarantine caused anxiety, insecurity and decreased vitality more than depressing children. Therefore, it’s necessary to resolve the child's feelings of insecurity, anxiety and doubt through various methods such as providing appropriate information about this disease, and to learn ways to deal with it effectively. Further research with a larger sample is needed to validate these findings.

Keywords: Coronavirus, Mental health, Home quarantine, Children, Drawing tests

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 08 November 2020
  • Revise Date: 20 February 2021
  • Accept Date: 07 April 2021

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