- There are variable reactions to short-term maternal deprivation of any kind and these may be influenced by the following factors:
The Age of the Child: Separation distress occurs between the ages of approx. 6 months - 3 years. Macoby (1980) observed that the incidence of distress peaked at 12-18 months. Distress is problematic because the child has little language or understanding and no concept of time and so requires a reminder of mother or home to help reduce the amout of distress felt.
Gender / Temperament: Gross argues that boys exhibit more separation distress than girls but both sexes vary in their reaction and in their ability to cope with the separation. However the ability to cope may be influence by a variety of factors e.g. ehterh there were pre-existing problems in the relationship with attachment figures before the separation.
Existing Relationship with Mother: The more stable the relationship before separation the more effectively the child will be able to cope, but if the mother is overprotective towards the child then there will be more distress. If a child has had good experiences of separations in the past Stacey et al (1970), has had experience of multiple attachments or has had a father who takes an active role in the child-rearing Kotelchuck (1976) then the child will express reduced levels of separation distress.
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