Drawings of the Self During COVID-19 Reveal Lived Experiences of the Pandemic

The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique context in which to explore individuals' understandings of the self. Absent pharmaceutical interventions, many government and public health officials enacted behavioural interventions at this time to help curb infection. In places with social distancing or lockdown policies and recommendations, many aspects of individuals' social identities were altered, taken away, or limited. The present study uses a qualitative drawing methodology to thematically analyze individuals' perceptions of the self. Between July and December 2020, 78 participants submitted a visual in response to the prompt, "Draw how you see yourself during the COVID-19 pandemic", with the option to add a brief written description. Analysis of the images and their accompanying descriptions resulted in four themes that highlight both positive and negative self-perceptions in the areas of personal well-being, a shared sense of isolation, pandemic-related protocols, and perceptions of time. This study offers insight into the diverse ways individuals understood themselves in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the value of qualitative, visual methodologies for elucidating less tangible processes and experiences.