Abstract:
In this article we describe how using a visual, child-friendly measure of resilience
in a randomised control trial (RCT), the Kgolo Mmogo (KM) project, resulted in
representative insights on resilience in a mother-child relationship where the mother
is HIV-positive. We used the existing psychological method Kinetic Family Drawing
(KFD) to measure resilience of young children in the qualitative phase of the
concurrent mixed method RCT as the children represent cultural groups for whom
standardized measures have not been developed. We use the case example of baseline
KM assessment data of 6 year olds (n = 11; 3 female, 8 male). The results of the
study demonstrate that the visual and qualitative data from children (KFD) added
to quantitative information obtained from mothers (Vineland Adaptive Behavior
Scale, VABS). Additional information from the KFD had interpretation value for
VABS scores and provided a child’s perspective regarding resilience. Contrasting
information from the KFD problematized mothers’ perspectives as indicated in the
VABS. The absence of significant information in KFD results regarding VABS
sub-domains indicates differences in the cultural/contextual conceptualization of
resilience. This exploratory study indicates initial support for the cross-cultural
utility of the KFD to measure resilience in young children faced with adversity.
