Separation anxiety disorder

Definition:

A normal developmental stage during which the child experiences anxiety when separated from the primary care giver (usually the mother). Occurs normally between 8 months of age and may last until 14 months old.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

As infants develop and become more aware and interactive with their environment, they experience various emotions. Trust, safety, and comfort depend on familiarity and consistency. Lack of familiarity produces fear. From 8 to 14 months, children experience fear when they are denied familiar and safe situations. They recognize their parents as familiar and safe. When separated from parents, they feel threatened and unsafe. Separation anxiety is a normal development stage that usually decreases around 2 years old when toddlers begin to understand that parents may be out of sight but will return.

Resolution of separation anxiety depends on an adequate sense of safety and trust in people other than parents, trust and safety in their environment, and trust in their parent's return.

Even after children have successfully mastered this developmental stage, separation anxiety may return during periods of stress. Most children will experience some degree of separation anxiety when in unfamiliar situations, especially when separated from parents. When children are in situations (such as hospitals) and are experiencing stress (such as illness or pain), they seek the safety, comfort, and protection of their parents. When parents cannot be with their children in these situations, the child experiences distress.