An exploration of the formal elements in adolescents’ drawings: General screening for socio-emotional concerns

Screening adolescents for socio-emotional concerns is often challenging. Non-threatening and engaging tools are needed for this population. Art assessments can provide unique means of screening adolescents in group settings. Participants were asked to make two drawings: (1) their perfect romantic date, and (2) a place where they might be exposed to alcohol or drugs. The goal of this study was to examine the underlying factor structure of the FEATS and determine the ability of identified composite scales in detecting between-group differences on the BASC-2.As part of a larger study of health risk behaviors, 193 students from a traditional high school and a therapeutic high school completed the BASC-2 measure and two drawings. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted to explore the underlying factor structure of the FEATS. Composite scale scores were used in MANCOVA to detect between-group differences in those scoring in the At-Risk on the BASC-2.The EFA supported the use of three reliable FEATS composite scales. However, these composite scales scores failed to detect between-group differences in students scoring At-Risk on BASC-2 composite scales. These results suggest future research needs to be done to adequately assess the ability of the FEATS composite scales scores for socio-emotional concerns in adolescents when using two drawings with different directives.

► The use of FEATS scales to detect between-group differences in BASC-2 scores was explored.
► Participants drew two pictures with different drawing directives that were rated using the FEATS.
► Psychometrics of the FEATS scales were explored and a factor analysis revealed 3 composite scales.
► Results show that the composite scales are not an appropriate screen for socio-emotional concerns in this sample.
► Continued research related to the use of drawing screening would enchase the use of these tools.