TITLE Relations between the Family Members According to Kvebaek Family Sculpture Technique: Comparative Study in Families in Control Group and with Mentally Retarded Children.

This report discusses the findings from an Estonian study that used the Kvebaek Family Sculpture Technique to compare family relationships in families of 47 children (ages 7-10) with siblings with mental retardation to family relationships in families of 43 typical children. The family size ranged from four to five members, so there were two to three children in each family. During the study, male and female figurines of three sizes were placed on the table. Each child was asked to place the figurines on a sheet of white plastic 10 x 10 cm chessboard squares so the child could see all the members of the family. If any further instructions were needed, children were told to place the figurines as they saw the relations between the family members. Then the distances between the members of the configuration were computed. While comparing the distance value between Ego and other family members one at a time, there was no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups. Some differences were found between sexes, with boys having significantly longer distances with their fathers and mothers. (Contains 23 references.) (CR) * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document.