CORRELATIONS AMONG DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS, PERSONALITY, AND SYNTHETIC HOUSE-TREE-PERSON DRAWINGS IN SOUTH KOREAN ADULTS

Abstract

This study aimed to examine correlations among the synthetic House-Tree-Person drawing, depressive symptoms, and personality. In this descriptive correlational study, 186 Korean adult participants completed the synthetic House-Tree-Person drawing test, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaires-9. Persons with depression drew fewer two-dimensional body parts (p = .027) and rectangular primary walls (p = .011) compared with people without depression. Psychoticism was negatively correlated with two-dimensional house parts (r = –.21, p = .026) and active person (r = –.20, p = .027). Neuroticism and addiction were negatively correlated with two-dimensional tree (r = –.20, p = .030; r = –.20, p = .026). Impulsiveness was negatively correlated with central location of a house (r = –.20, p = .032) and additional decoration of a person (r = –.22, p = .019). Additional house decorations showed a negative correlation with empathy (r = –.22, p = .015) and a positive correlation with lie (r = .23, p = .013).