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Comparing Drawing Characteristics of Only Children and First Born
Children
Majedeh Khaksarian
Department of Psychology, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran
Abdol Hakim Tirgarih*
Department of Psychiatry Medical Sciences and Research Central Psychiatry and Behaviour
Sciences maz.ums Mzandaran, Iran
*Corresponding Author Email: [email protected]
Abstract
Psychologists have long been using children’s drawings to diagnose their emotional, cognitive
and behavioral problems. The purpose of this study was to compare drawing characteristics of
only children and first born children. This study was a causal comparison the population was all
1385 primary school students in Babol city, Iran, in 2014-2015. 200 students were selected using
cluster random sampling. 100 of them were only children and 100 of them were first born
children. The students were tested using Draw a Family (DAF) and Draw a Person (DAP) tests.
The data were analyzed using chi-square in SPSS. Regarding the indexes of anxiety, there was
no significant difference between the drawings of the two groups with respect to the considered
items in DAP test (e.g. motionless and unbalanced body, black color or black spots, overfilling
the paper, overuse of eraser, self devaluation, very pale or very bold lines, drawing a small
person in the margin, irregular and linear mouth, small and weak legs and addition of extra
details). There was also no significant difference regarding the items in DAF test (e.g. omission
of self (for first born children), addition of another person (for single children), regression and
devaluating). Regarding the indexes of depression, there was also no significant difference
between drawings of the two groups with respect to the considered items in DAP test (e.g.
devaluation and small head, overshadowing and use of gray color, weak shins, drawing in the
bottom or in the margins of the paper, frowned and sad face, omission of mouth and small size of
the person and the drawing). There was also no significant difference regarding the items in
DAF test (e.g. self devaluation, regressive reaction. However, there was a significant difference
between two groups regarding the item of hidden or slouchy arms. According to these results, it
could be said that there was no significant difference between anxiety and depression of only
children and first born children.
Keywords: Only Child, First Born Child, Draw a Person Test, Draw a Family Test.
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Introduction
In recent years, the number of only child families is growing so fast, due to several reasons (Hart,
2011). However, it cannot be said definitely that it is better or worse than other family groupings.
Each kind of family has its advantages and disadvantages. Single child families emphasize on
certain matters that may be not be important or at least emphasized in multiple child families.
Child training is affected by two factors: present factors and absent factors. An only child grows
with no siblings to communicate with and there are only adults (Barclay, 2015). Both present and
absent factors play important roles in training only children. The only child is at the center of
attention and affection of the parents. This will lead to a self centered self conception of the
child. That is the child thinks that he is an important person. Broofy believes that only children
are always looked negatively upon and they are labeled as maladjusted, self-centered,
irresponsible etc (Farnoudian, 2012). Only children are generally put into two different
personality types, both of which reveal the negative viewpoints toward them; type one: rude,
overbearing, self-conceited and unpopular; type two: sensitive and dissociable who want to be
with their parents only (Lou et al, 2014).
On the other side, first born children are at the center of unshared attention and affection only
before the birth of the second child. The birth of a sibling has a detrimental psychological effect
on the first born children because they are taken away from the spotlight and they try to
repossess the previous position. This condition can change an individual’s view of life (Schultz,
2011).
First born children and only children have greater tendency to build relationships with adults in
relation to other children. Thus, they usually have trouble making relationships with their peers
and classmates. Parental expectations tend to be very high with respect to first born and only
children and for this very reason there is great mental pressure on children and can cause anxiety
and shyness in them (Anvari, 2013). Studies have revealed that only children are those who can
change the world. They are organized and trustable. They love reality and thoughts and they are
responsible. There are also some common negative personality traits among them such as
pertinacity, anger, having high expectations, not accepting their mistakes, not accepting criticism
and being sensitive (Damian and Roberts, 2015, Bleske-Rechek and Kelley, 2014, Barclay,
2015, Harris, 2006).
Drawing is one of the delicate skills among children. Children can start to draw from early ages
and draw some lines on the paper (Kerman, 2012). Drawings of children are valuable sources of
insights into their mental characteristics and their emotional statuses in long term. Drawings are
projections of a piece of their real beings and that is why it is a proper instrument to get into the
mysterious world of them. Children’s drawings of their environment are what they think of it not
what it really is (Marnat, 2012). Psychoanalytically, children project their subconscious ego
through their drawings and thus drawings are valuables clues to the causes of children’s anxiety
or depression. Psychoanalysts believe that children express themselves subconsciously in their
drawings and therefore, analysis of their children is a reliable and important way of analyzing
their mental status and it will help parents and trainers in recognizing the personality problems of
the children (Qasemi, 2006). Though the effects of birth order has been proved many years ago,
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the results of the studies continue to be contradicting. The study of Sardar Pour et al. showed that
conduct disorder and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are more common among multiplechild families than in single-child families (Azizi, 2011). Mcclintock (2005) found that children
with siblings tend to be more socially adjustable. In another study on social skills, it was revealed
that only children were more aggressive and they were not popular in peer groups, while children
with siblings had more cooperative skills (Satourian, 2014). Damian and Robert (2015) also
found that there is a significant relationship between birth order and intelligence.
As mentioned above, previous studies have established a relationship between birth order and
children’s personality and mental status. However, firstly, they did not compare first born
children with only children. Secondly, previous studies did not use drawing tests for this
purpose. Thus, the current study is going to answer the question that whether there is a difference
between drawing characteristics of only children and first born children.
Materials and Methods
The purpose of this study was to compare the drawing characteristics of first born children and
only children. This study was a causal comparison the population of which was all 1385 primary
school students in Babol city, Iran, in 2014-2015. Among primary schools of Babol city, Iran,
two boys’ school and two girls’ school were selected. 200 students were selected among these
students using cluster random sampling. 100 of them were only children and 100 of them were
first born children.
The instruments used in this study were:
Draw a Family test (DAF)
Recent studies have shown that drawing tests can be reliably used for diagnosis of children’s
problems. In this regard Spiegelman (1992) and Kamonian (1980) showed that children’s
drawings can be projections of their relationship with their family. These scholars have specified
some items in drawings that can be meaningful. Some of these items are valuating, devaluating,
standing for or close and assimilation. Children’s drawing not only project their personal
characteristics but also it projects the family relationships. This test is much better for children
and teens because they cannot easily talk about their emotions about the family. Administration
of the test includes several stages which are as follows: 1- administration instruction 2- drawing
process 3- interview 4- assimilation 5- emotional reactions 6- comparing with a real family
(Kerman, 2012).
Draw a Person Test (DAP)
Among drawing tests, DAP is older and more reputed. The reliability and validity of this test is
finely established such that Mac believes that drawing a person by the child is tantamount to his
personal signature (Dadsetan, 2012). Reliability of some items in DAP test were estimated
differently. Though, reliability of most of the items was estimated to be more than 80%. Farhadi
(2008) estimated the reliability (internal consistency) of DAP test to be 82% using Cronbach
Alpha. To administer the test the children are asked to make a picture of a person and Make the
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very best picture that they can. There is no time limit in this test. The scoring procedure is that
there is a point for every single part of the drawing.
Results
Question 1: Is there a difference between drawing characters of first born children and only
children regarding anxiety?
Table 1. Comparison analysis of drawing characteristics regarding anxiety in DAP test
Statistical indexes
Drawing characteristics
Motionless and
unbalanced
Black color or black
spots
Overfilling the paper
Over use of eraser
Self devaluating
Very pale or very bold
lines
Drawing a small person
in the margin
Linear and irregular
mouth
Small and weak legs
Adding extra details
Groups
Frequency
%
OC*
FBC**
OC
FBC
OC
FBC
OC
FBC
OC
FBC
OC
FBC
OC
FBC
OC
FBC
OC
FBC
OC
FBC
55
67
15
21
19
28
42
42
42
48
54
68
52
53
61
69
47
60
36
53
45.08
54.91
41.66
58.33
40.42
59.57
50
50
46.66
53.33
44.26
55.73
49.52
50.47
46.92
53.07
43.92
56.07
40.44
59.55
DF
Chi
square
Significance
level
1
1.18
0.277
1
1.00
0.317
1
1.72
0.189
1
-
-
1
0.400
0.527
1
1.60
0.205
1
0.010
0.922
1
0.492
0.483
1
1.57
0.209
1
3.24
0.072
*Only child
**First born child
The results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the
variables of motionless and unbalanced body (p<0.277), black color or black spots (p<0.317),
overfilling the paper (p<0.189), overuse of eraser, self devaluation (p<0.527), very pale or very
bold lines (p<0.205), drawing a small person in the margin (p<0.922), irregular and linear mouth
(p<0.483), small and weak legs (p<0.209) and addition of extra details (p<0.072).
Table 2. Comparison analysis of drawing characteristics regarding anxiety in DAF test
Statistical indexes
Groups
Frequency
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%
DF
Chi
Significance
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Drawing characteristics
Omission of self (for
FBC) / addition of
another person (for OC)
Regression
Devaluating
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OC
38
48.71
FBC
40
51.28
OC
FBC
OC
FBC
21
28
45
55
42.85
57.14
45
55
square
level
1
0.051
0.821
1
1.00
0.317
1
1.00
0.317
The results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the
variables of self omission (for first born children) and adding another person (for only children)
(p<0.821), regression (p<0.317) and devaluating (p<0.317).
Question 2: Is there a difference between drawing characters of first born children and only
children regarding depression?
Table 3. Comparison analysis of drawing characteristics regarding depression in DAP test
Statistical indexes
Drawing characteristics
Over shadowing and
over use of gray color
Small head and
devaluating
Weak shins
Hidden or slouchy arms
Drawing in the bottom
or margins of the paper
Frowned and sad face
Omission of mouth
Small size of drawing
and person
Groups
Frequency
%
OC
FBC
OC
9
12
40
42.58
57.14
49.3.8
FBC
41
50.61
OC
FBC
OC
FBC
OC
55
67
38
67
33
45.08
54.91
36.19
63.80
49.25
FBC
34
50.74
OC
FBC
OC
FBC
OC
FBC
34
45
13
21
49
55
43.03
56.96
38.23
61.76
47.11
52.88
DF
Chi
square
Significance
level
1
0.429
0.513
1
0.012
0.912
1
1.18
0.277
1
8.01
0.005
1
0.015
0.903
1
1.53
0.216
1
1.88
0.170
1
0.346
0.556
The results showed that there is no significant result between the two groups regarding the
variables of devaluation and small head (p<0.912), overshadowing and use of gray color
(p<0.513), weak shins (p<0.277), drawing in the bottom or in the margins of the paper
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(p<0.903), frowned and sad face (p<0.216), omission of mouth (p<0.170) and small size of the
person and the drawing (p<0.556). It could also be seen that there is a significant difference
between the two groups regarding the variable of hidden or slouchy arms (p<0.005).
Table 4. Comparison analysis of drawing characteristics regarding depression in DAF test
Statistical indexes
Drawing characteristics
Self omission
Self devaluating
Regressive reaction and
assimilation with an
infant
Groups
Frequency
%
OC
FBC
OC
FBC
OC
4
7
36
42
7
36.36
63.63
46.15
53.84
41.17
FBC
10
58.82
DF
Chi
square
Significance
level
1
0.818
0.366
1
0.462
0.497
1
0.529
0.467
The results showed that there was no significant relationship between the two groups regarding
the variables omission of self (p<0.366), self devaluating (p<0.497) and regressive reaction and
assimilation with an infant (p<0.467).
Conclusion
One of the purposes of this study was to compare the drawing characteristics regarding anxiety
among only children and first born children. The results showed that there was no significant
difference between the two groups regarding the variables of motionless and unbalanced body,
black color or black spots, overfilling the paper, overuse of eraser, self devaluation, very pale or
very bold lines, drawing a small person in the margin, irregular and linear mouth, small and
weak legs and addition of extra details in DAP test and self omission (for first born children) and
adding another person (for only children), regression and devaluating in DAF test. As mentioned
earlier, there are contradicting ideas regarding the differences between only children and other
children. However, regarding the results of this study, it can be said that the last born child will
never be taken away from the center of attention and is cared by parents and elder siblings. Last
born children will experience significant progresses because they always seek to overtake elder
siblings. Most of the last born children are turned out to be successful in their careers,
responsibilities etc. However, if they remain at the center of attention and become attached to the
family, they will not manage to deal effectively with their affairs. Only children also never
experience being put aside from attention and will always remain in the spotlight. They usually
become mature and will achieve adult attitudes earlier than other children. However, they will
experience a shock when they step into social environments such as school, because they are not
being attended and cared for like home there. One of the disadvantages of being an only child is
its bad effects on growth stages of the child. Only children have no peer at home to play,
compete or fight with. They have no companion at home. Thus they miss some natural
experiences and feelings unique to childhood. Some believe that being at the center of attention
makes only children sensitive and weak in the future (Zakeri Mehr, 2013).
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On the other side, first born children also experience the unique and enviable position of being
the only child. However, they lose their position by the birth of the second child. The affections
and cares are then shared between the children and it will be a psychologically detrimental
experience for them. Thus, they seem to be similar in having the experience of losing their
unique position at home and in society which may be a reason to justify the results of this study.
The other purpose of this study was to compare the drawing characteristics regarding depression
among only children and first born children. The results indicated that there is no difference
between two groups regarding the variables of overshadowing and use of gray color, small head
and devaluating, weak shins, drawing in the bottom or margin of the paper, frowned and sad
face, omission of mouth and small size of the drawing and the person in DAP test and variables
of self omission, self devaluating, regressive reaction and assimilation with an infant in DAF
test. However, there was a significant difference between two groups regarding the variable of
hidden or slouchy arms.
Single-childedness is not better or worse than multi-childedness. Both of them have their
advantages and disadvantages. Single child families emphasize on certain matters that may be
not be important or at least emphasized in multiple child families. Child training is affected by
two factors: present factors and absent factors. An only child grows with no siblings to
communicate with and there are only adults (Barclay, 2015). Both present and absent factors
play important roles in training only children. The only child is at the center of attention and
affection of the parents. This will lead to a self centered self conception of the child. That is the
child thinks that he is an important person. The advantage of being only child is such that the
children say “I want to be a single child to have no rival and have nobody to stimulate my
jealousy”. Only children feel more secured and confident. Only children start to talk earlier than
other children and have more powerful social spirit. They imitate their parents and try to act like
adults such that provokes admiration of others. Only children usually reach maturity earlier than
other children. Studies have shown that mothers’ of only children hug, touch, kiss, swing and
support them more than other mothers. They have more interactions with their child. This high
interaction between mother and child in this age creates attachment between mother and child
(Zakeri, 2013).
Many families believe that it is much better to have only one child and provide him/her
everything they desire than to have more children and always worry how to support them. In
single child families there is closer relationship among them and the child does not compete with
other siblings and the whole attention of the parents are focused on the child. On the other hand,
this over attention and over caring makes parents ignore the bad behavior of the child and leads
to intense emotional attachment between parents and the child. In these families, parents have
very high expectations of their child. Only children are always under the pressure of their parents
to be successful individuals in future. Furthermore, only children miss the unique experience of
having siblings and having interactions with them and experience a lower quality of life, in this
regard (Moradi, 2013).
Lio et al. (2005) stated that only children are anxious, nervous and depressed individuals. Some
other studies showed that only children lack socials skills (Robert and Belantun, 2001). On the
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other side, parental attentions can be both helpful and harmful and can lead to behavioral
problems in only children.
Piro (2004), in a study on 5 years old children, showed that only children have fewer social and
interactional skills compared to their peers. However, longitudinal researches have shown that
they will gradually gain the social skills later in life, but not as complete as other children.
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