Exploring Personal Constructs and Self-positioning in Adolescents with Mild Physical Disabilities Using the Ideal Self Drawing Technique
| Author | Jalal Younesi | en |
| Author | Ali Akbar Rezakhoo | en |
| Author | Bahman Bahmani | en |
| Author | Manoochehr Azkhosh | en |
| Author | Mohammad Saeed Khanjani | en |
| Author | Taher Alizadeh | en |
| Orcid | Jalal Younesi [0000-0001-6684-8790] | en |
| Orcid | Ali Akbar Rezakhoo [0009-0006-2164-291X] | en |
| Orcid | Bahman Bahmani [0000-0001-5485-3314] | en |
| Orcid | Manoochehr Azkhosh [0000-0002-2596-3482] | en |
| Orcid | Mohammad Saeed Khanjani [0000-0002-7473-1549] | en |
| Orcid | Taher Alizadeh [0000-0002-3455-375X] | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-09-30 | en |
| Abstract | Introduction: Adolescents with mild physical disabilities occupy a liminal social space, being neither fully disabled nor completely healthy, which may exacerbate identity confusion. Personal Construct Theory (PCT) provides a framework for exploring their self-awareness. This qualitative study aimed to identify the core personal constructs of these adolescents and examine their self-positioning between ideal and undesirable selves using an adapted Ideal Self Drawing Technique. Case Presentation: Eight adolescents (4 girls and 4 boys; aged 14 - 17 years) with mild physical disabilities participated. Constructs were elicited across nine thematic domains using an adapted drawing technique, followed by a visual self-positioning task along an undesirable-self/ideal-self continuum. Thematic content analysis was conducted. In total, 175 undesirable-self constructs and 180 ideal-self constructs were generated. The themes of fear of loneliness and fear of loss emerged across both self-poles. Following collaborative exploration, all participants demonstrated a visual shift in self-appraisal. Conclusions: The adapted technique may offer a useful framework for externalizing self-discrepancies and creating space for self-reflection. However, as this was an uncontrolled qualitative exploration, the findings should be considered hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory. Further research is needed to establish the clinical utility of the technique. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/ijpbs-173350 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/ijpbs/articles/173350 | en |
| Keyword | Adolescents | en |
| Keyword | Liminality | en |
| Keyword | Personal Construct | en |
| Keyword | Physical Disability | en |
| Keyword | Self-positioning | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Exploring Personal Constructs and Self-positioning in Adolescents with Mild Physical Disabilities Using the Ideal Self Drawing Technique | en |
| Type | Case Report | en |
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