Separation Anxiety Disorder Causes & Risk Factors

Conditions & Diseases: Psychological & Mental Health

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation Anxiety Disorder Causes and Risk Factors

The causes of separation anxiety disorder are not known. However, separation anxiety disorder, like any other anxiety disorder, is believed to be triggered by biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors.

Biological factors
Anxiety disorders seem to be connected to a chemical imbalance of two neurotransmitters in the brain, norepinephrine and serotonin. This imbalance can be caused by external factors or can be inherited, which makes the individual more vulnerable to developing the disorder. Genetic studies suggest a possible connection between children with separation anxiety disorder and parents that have suffered or are affected by panic disorder, anxiety, agoraphobia, or depression.

Psychological factors
Separation anxiety disorder can be triggered by a dysfunctional attachment developed between the child and parents. The child may display separation anxiety when sensing an emotional distance between them and parent(s) in order to draw attention.

Social factors
Children learn how to behave and feel in different situations imitating or observing the behavior of those around them, especially family members. When important figures in a child's life display increased anxiety, the child might also learn to feel anxiety when confronted with stressful situations.

Environmental factors
Separation anxiety disorder may develop after major changes or stressful/traumatic events in the child's life, such as the death or illness of an attachment figure or pet, changing in the family structure due to divorce or the birth of another sibling, moving to a new area, neighborhood, country, continent, or school. Some studies suggest that traumatic events such as physical or sexual abuse may also trigger the disorder.

See Also:
Separation Anxiety Disorder: Introduction
Separation Anxiety Disorder: Symptoms
Separation Anxiety Disorder: Causes & Risk Factors
Separation Anxiety Disorder: Treatment Options

Article by Alina Morrow
MS Psychology
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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Page Last Modified:
09/07/2010