separation anxiety

anxiety /an·xi·e·ty/ (ang-zi´ĕ-te) a feeling of apprehension, uncertainty, and fear without apparent stimulus, associated with physiological changes (tachycardia, sweating, tremor, etc.).

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separation anxiety  apprehension due to removal of significant persons or familiar surroundings, common in infants 12 to 24 months old; see also under disorder.

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sep·a·ra·tion anxiety (sp-rshn)

n.

A child's apprehension or fear associated with his or her separation from a parent or other significant person.

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separation anxiety

Etymology: L, separare, to separate, atio, process

fear and apprehension caused by separation from familiar surroundings and significant people. The syndrome occurs commonly in an infant separated from its mother or mothering figure or approached by a stranger. In a separation crisis the child goes through three distinct states. The protest stage is marked by loud cries, which can last for several days and during which the child is inconsolable. In the second phase the child stops crying and becomes depressed as a result of increasing hopelessness, grief, and mourning. The third stage is one of detachment or denial, in which the child outwardly appears to have adjusted.

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separation anxiety

see separation anxiety.

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separation anxiety

Pediatrics A normal developmental stage–between 6-8 months and 10-14 months–during which an infant experiences apprehension, uncertainty, discomfort when faced with anticipated or actual separation from a 1º care giver, mother or parent-surrogate; SA wanes by age 2, when toddlers begin to trust that their parents will return; SA reappears whenever one is in an unfamiliar situations–eg, hospitals, illness, pain, or unfamiliar people