Abstract

SANTOS, Benedito Carlos Alves dos et al. Emotional characteristics and personality traits among institutionalized and non-institutionalized children. Bol. psicol [online]. 2010, vol.60, n.133, pp. 139-152. ISSN 0006-5943.

This study intends to compare the psychological traits of institutionalized and non-institutionalized children. Participated 36 children from foster homes and 36 children who lived with their families, of both sexes, whose age ranged from 5 to 10 years-old. It was applied the Personality Traits Scale for Children and the Human Figure Drawing that were analyzed by the Koppitz emotional indicators. The Human Figure Drawing results showed significant differences when the total number of emotional indicators between the groups was compared, whereas children who had receive foster care presented in average two more indicators than the children who lived with their families. It was also seen that institutionalized children showed more traits of psychoticism and neuroticism than the children from the other group. It can be therefore concluded about the importance of family as a mental health factor in the child’s development.

Keywords : Institutionalized children; Family; Human Figure Drawing; Personality.

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