Examining Children’s Perceptions of Covid-19 Through Drawings: A Case Control Study

Objective: The objective of the present study was to examine the perceptions of children regarding the Covid-19 pandemic through their own drawings and to reveal the impact of the pandemic on children’s psychological dynamics through an examination of their perceptions related to the pandemic and draw-and-tell interviews.Methods: Participants were 60 children aged 6–10 years (30 children diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last six months and 30 healthy children not diagnosed with Covid-19) and their parents. Children diagnosed with COVID-19 were recruited from a state hospital, whereas children in the non-Covid-19 group were recruited from a kindergarten. The children’s experiences were examined using drawings, the Children’s Apperception Test (CAT), and draw-and-tell interviews. The study employed descriptive and content analysis approaches.Results: In the descriptive analyses, it was observed that the frequency of colour use was less in the Covid-19 group (p<.001) while emotional difficulties such as introversion, regression, and insecurity were higher in this group than in the non-Covid-19 group (p< .05). Content analysis revealed that the vital threats posed by the pandemic negatively affected the mental health of all children. Additionally, the external reality experienced by children during the pandemic prevented them from accurately reflecting their actual mental functionality in their responses. Upon comprehensive evaluation of the study results, it was determined that children in both groups exhibited signs of fear, anxiety, depression, aggression, insecurity, introversion, and regression.Conclusions: The findings of the present study may be beneficial for understanding the psychological effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on children from their own perspectives and may have implications for clinical practise regarding the support that should be offered to children. In psycho-social support interventions for children, it is of critical importance to address the anxiety that may arise from being intensely present and intertwined with their parents, as well as their sensitivity to separation and dependency.