Diversity-Based Characteristics of Mexican Children's Drawings: A Qualitative Analysis of Drawings Collected in Mexico City

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of the diversity of characteristics in the drawings of children in Mexico City. The authors conducted a thematic analysis of 174 drawings from children ages 6 to 11 that revealed two main discrete themes: nature and stress. A personalized, supportive relationship with nature emerged as a subtheme. The main stress and nature themes shared other common themes, including an extensive use of schemas for houses and trees, cultural markers of bright colors and symmetry, and collectivistic markers expressed as the pairing and duplication of images. Other discrete themes pertained to gender and holidays. The demarcation of nature and stress themes suggests that engagement with nature plays an ameliorative role for Mexican children and families. A historical review of the positive relationships of Mexican people with nature provides support for the authors' findings and recommended clinical applications.

Funding

Partial funding for this project was provided by Alliant International University I-MERIT Fellowship awarded to Dr. Noah Hass-Cohen.