This study used a techno-projective assessment method to analyze the relationship between pencil pressure applied during drawing tasks and state anxiety (S-anxiety) and trait anxiety (T-anxiety) levels. A highly accurate and precise pressure-sensitive palette was used by participants (N = 50) between the ages of 6 and 11 to reliably and objectively measure the degree of pencil pressure during three drawing tasks: Draw-a-Person, Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test, and drawing an automobile. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) assessed the participants’ levels of S-anxiety and T-anxiety. Results indicated that individuals with higher levels of T-anxiety used significantly less pencil pressure on all three drawing measures than individuals with lower levels of T-anxiety. Furthermore, individuals with high and low levels of S-anxiety used significantly more pencil pressure on all three drawing measures than individuals with medium levels of S-anxiety. Implications of these findings and considerations for future research are discussed.
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