Self-figure drawings as a non-verbal assessment of abuse among institutionalised Children in India

Drawings as abuse screening assessments have been sparingly used in India despite their advantages when working with institutionalised children. They are easy to administer, age-appropriate, and less intrusive compared to traditional assessments. The present study aimed to validate and use the Self-Figure Drawing (SFD) among institutionalised children in India to assess their abuse history. Additionally, the study examined any gender differences among the children. A convenience sample of 92 children (51 girls, 41 boys) aged 9–13 years with abuse history and currently residing in shelter homes in South India was recruited. Children drew themselves and completed the demographics sheet, Juvenile Victimisation Questionnaire (JVQ), and Medical Somatic Dissociation Questionnaire (MSDQ). SFD showed concurrent (Effect size = 0.24; p ' .05) and predictive validity (Effect size = 0.3; p ' .01) with the MSDQ on sexual abuse and concurrent validity with the JVQ on physical (Effect size = 0.22; p ' .05) and emotional abuse (Effect size = 0.21; p ' .05). Gender differences were observed in physical (Effect size = 0.25; p ' .05) and sexual abuse (Effect size = 0.31; p ' .01) indicators from the SFD. Findings support the validity and applicability of SFD in the Indian context as a complement to traditional assessment methods, especially for institutionalised children.