P34: Attachment Patterns and Separation Anxiety Symptoms in Children

Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by developmentally inappropriate and excessive anxiety concerning separation from home or those to whom the individual is attached. Literature suggests that child attachment and anxiety symptoms are related. The aim of this study is to discover which symptoms of separation anxiety were associated with avoidant and/or ambivalent attachment. A total 150 children in first grade school participated in the study. To collect data personal information form, the separation anxiety symptoms scale (SAAS-C) and attachment questionnaire-child versions (AQC) were used. According to results, there is a significant positive correlation between separation anxiety disorder and attachment. Moreover, different associations were found between three patterns of attachment and separation anxiety symptoms.