Self-image in drawings by children from single-parent (divorced) families

The article discusses the effects of parental divorce on self-image of primary school aged children. The article provides description of empirical study conducted with the use of drawings by children from single-parent families. The goal was to find out particularities of their self-image. The comparative analysis was conducted on self-image of children from intact or divorced families. Self-perception mapping criteria were marked off and analyzed. So evidence of traumatic consequences of divorce was studied. The results were presented regarding distinctions in self-image of children from the two types of families. Besides, gender differences of self-image displayed in drawings were marked off. The piece of work supports workability of drawing techniques for self-image studies. The obtained results may be used when providing counseling or correctional help to divorcing or divorced families for mitigating traumatic effect of parental divorce on self-image of primary school aged children, maintaining their mental health and emotional well-being.

1. Arhireeva T. V. Sistemnyj podhod k ponimaniju struktury Ja-koncepcii i zakonomernostej ee razvitija v detskom vozraste // Kul'turno-istoricheskaja psihologija. 2008. № 4.
2. Vygotsky L. S. Voobrazhenie i tvorchestvo v detskom vozraste. M., 1991.
3. Lisina M. I. Obshenie, lichnost' i psihika rebenka. М.-Voronezh,1997.