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This study aimed to find evidences of validity through the analysis of correlation among anxiety indicators of Human Figure Drawing Test -- HFD -- of Karen Machover and the Scale of Personality Trait for Children. 240 children took part in this research, being them both male and female, with age ranging from 8 to 10 years old, all of them attending elementary public school. Through the analysis of Pearson correlation, it was found that when HFD indicators are grouped there are meaningful correlations with personality traits and, it was possible to infer that there are features that convey to them once anxiety is just part of the construct of personality traits as neuroticism and extroversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Revista de Orientación Educacional is the property of Universidad de Playa Ancha de Ciencias de la Educacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An individual's context affects the way in which their biological and psychological subsystems function and interacts with each other. While individuals are normally able to manipulate their environment, personality factors increase or diminish their context characteristics, which at the same time influence personality. Heredity and socio-environmental personality factors should not be considered separate elements, but rather a holistic approach as an individual-environment system that functions as a whole. Therefore, an unfavorable environment is a socio-environmental variable that interacts with children's heredity, thus influencing the development of certain personality traits. Based on the above, the specific goal of our research was to compare personality characteristics of children at risk due to poverty and children without risk due to poverty. We applied the Child Personality Questionnaire for Argentina (Cuestionario Argentino de Personalidad Infantil - CAPI) for children aged 6 to 8 (Lemos, 2005). We compared personality profiles from both groups through MANOVA, as well as comparisons of means and graphic profiles. Based on this analysis, we observed significant differences regarding personality factors [F de Hotelling (5, 168) = 2.47; p = .035], as well as facets [F de Hotelling (14, 159) = 2.607; p = .002], among children at risk due to poverty and those who were not. There were significant differences particularly in Conscientiousness [F(1) = 4.35; p = .038] and the following facets: competence [F(1) = 4.652; p = .032], vulnerability [F(1) = 9.732; p = .002], gregariousness and positive affect [F(1) = 8.338; p = .004], order [F(1) = 6.798; p = .010] and action [F(1) = 4.233; p = .041]. The tendencies of the results are as follows: the group at risk scored lower in Conscientiousness, and regarding facets: competence, gregariousness, positive affect, order, action and vulnerability. With regards to Conscientiousness, which includes order, organization and responsibility as facets, Vanistendael (1995) states that children at risk usually have lower levels of achievement motivation. A child's impulsivity and lack of ability to postpone gratification, particularly of children at risk, generally affects them negatively in this aspect. Regarding lower levels in the competence facet, this could be related to other results found in the same group of children at risk, which showed lower levels of self-esteem, as well as of self-sufficiency, and lower levels of self-efficacy (Ghiglione, 2007). In relation to the vulnerability facet, defined for our purposes as lack of independence, we could suppose that depending on someone naturally implies that there be someone who can be depended upon and in whom to seek shelter. These children have little trust in their parents' love and perceive them as unavailable, together with diminished efforts at seeking a social support group and lack of a social network (Richaud de Minzi, 2006). Low scores in relation to the positve affect facet is probably due to the fact that children who are exposed to poverty usually have a more negative view of the world and more feelings of hopelessness (Kotliarenco, 1997). Last but not least, regarding low scores in the action facet, which is part of the Openness factor, in a previous study on coping strategies, this group of children at risk showed more paralization at both cognitive and emotional levels (Richaud de Minzi and Lemos, 2008). In spite of the results which show that children at risk due to poverty have a more vulnerable personality profile, we hope to strengthen their resources through therapeutic interventions. The stories of resilient children show that faith and trust can be developed and sustained, even amidst adverse circumstances. However, this happens only when these children find people who give meaning to their lives, as well as reasons for them to trust life. This is our great challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personality characteristics of the intellectually gifted living under poverty conditions are described, following the Rorschach Psychodiagnostic test. Participants were 55 boys and girls (27 intellectual gifted, 28 non-gifted), age range 9-12, previously selected with the Multi-factorial model of giftedness for a former study. Results revealed that the intellectually gifted children exhibit the following personality characteristics: (a) tendency to approach situations from personal reflections; (b) sophisticated emotional resources; (c) high levels of initiative and creativity; (d) tendency to perfectionism; (e) need to control situations; (f) unconventionality; (h) high levels of sensibility; (i) oppositeness, as well as (j) insight resources. They also exhibit characteristics expected in poverty contexts such as cautiousness and low level of self-confidence, high levels of stress and alert towards the environment, as well as tendency to depression. Recommendations for intervention purposes are given, as well as the need to develop research lines from a multidisciplinary approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]