From the eyes to the heart through the collection of art images: A preliminary study on the traumatic symptoms and psychological well-being of orphans of femicide

Intimate partner homicide refers to the murder of family members, often women, resulting in trauma for the surviving family members. Although extensive research has focused on establishing predictors of gender-based violence, little is known about interventions for orphans of femicide. The present study aimed to investigate the associations between the use of art images, the perception of traumatic symptoms, and overall psychological well-being. This study involved 84 orphans of femicide who were subjected to viewing the images of the “Trauma” and “Resources” categories of the Collection of Art Images and were administered a questionnaire to assess the quality of experience viewing the art images, the impact of traumatic events, the frequency and severity of traumatic symptoms, and their psychological well-being. The results showed that the frequency and severity of traumatic symptoms were negatively associated with psychological well-being. In addition, the perceived quality of the experience with art images exhibited a positive association with psychological well-being while displaying a negative correlation with both the perceived severity of symptoms and the intensity of traumatic events. The experience of trauma appeared to reduce the participants’ levels of psychological well-being, consequently exerting a negative impact on their life satisfaction. Moreover, the quality of the experience with art images acts as a buffering factor and capable of attenuating the perception of both the frequency and severity of traumatic symptoms as well as the intensity of traumatic experiences. This, in turn, fosters heightened levels of psychological well-being. Photo-elicitation tools, such as art images, appear to facilitate individuals’ exploration of their emotional experience, thereby enhancing meta-representative skills concerning trauma and favoring the integrative self and “emotional catharsis”.