Walking Drawings

Health Psychology will be publishing research on drawings that children with cerebral palsy created of themselves walking.  Fifty two children (ages 5-18) were asked to draw a picture of themselves walking.  The drawings were then analyzed to see if there was any association between drawing size/ content with clinical walking tests and children's self perception of their cerebral palsy.  The following was noted:

1.  larger drawings of self were associated with less distance traveled when walking, higher emotional responses to cerebral palsy and lower perceptions of pain/discomfort

2.  a larger self to overall drawing height ratio was associated with walking less distance

3.  drawings of the self between buildings and the absence of other figures was associated with reduced walking ability.

This is very interesting.  Is anyone aware of similar studies with regards to other disabilities and children's perception of different motor abilities?

 Reference: Chong J, Mackey AH, Stott NS, Broadbent E. Walking Drawings and Walking Ability in Children With Cerebral Palsy. Health Psychol. 2012 Feb 27. [Epub ahead of print]