Home⇛Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal⇛vol. 20 no. 8 (2024)

Separation Anxiety among Kindergarten Learners

Junabeth Estrada | Narciso Rabara

Discipline: Psychology and Health

 

Abstract:

This study is concerned with the separation anxiety among kindergarten learners in Pangasinan Schools Division II for school year 2023 – 2024. Specifically, this study determined the level of separation anxiety among kindergarten learners along inferiority complex, self-esteem needs, safety needs, socialization needs and love and feeling of belonging needs. (1) It looked into the profile of the respondents in terms of age, sex, civil status, highest educational attainment, length of service as a Kindergarten teacher, and number of relevant trainings and seminars attended, (2) the teachers level of perceived separation anxiety among kindergarten learners, (3) the significant difference in the level of perceived separation anxiety among kindergarten learners across the profile variable. (4) the problems encountered by the kindergarten learners. To address the foregoing problems raised in this study, statistical measures were used for data analysis and interpretations. These are the frequency counts (f) and percentage (%), the average weighted means (AWM), and the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used. The study reveals that kindergarten learners often come from lower-income families, with farming and housewives as their parents. Factors like inferiority complex, self-esteem, safety, socialization, love, and belonging contribute to separation anxiety. The study suggests that separation anxiety may be a common issue due to emotional and developmental challenges faced during their first school experiences. The study suggests several strategies to enhance the well-being and educational outcomes of lower-income children, including tailored support programs, parental engagement initiatives, community partnerships, financial literacy programs, and scholarship opportunities. It also recommends the use of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs in kindergarten classrooms to develop skills like self-awareness and empathy. Teachers should have access to resources and training to address separation anxiety effectively, and further research is recommended to understand the relationship between factors and separation anxiety.



References:

  1. Albano, A. M., Chorpita, B. F., & Barlow, D. H. (2003). Childhood anxiety disorders. In E. J. Mash & R. A. Barkley (Eds.), Child  psychopathology, (2nd ed.). (pp. 279-329). New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
  2. Amuyot, A.L. (2018). Separation Anxiety of Kindergarten Pupils in the First Month of the School Year of Buhay na Tubig Elementary  School Vol. 3 No. 2 (2018): Asia Journal of Multidiciplinary Research, https://ojs.aareseachindex.com/index.php.
  3. Applebury, G. (2021). Why is School Safety Important? https://www.lovetoknow.com/parenting/kids/why-is-school-safety-important. Araujo, G. (2022). Your Child’s Self-Esteem, https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/selfesteem.html.
  4. Barnes, Z. (2018). Separation Anxiety in Children. https://www.childpsychologist.com.au/resources/separationanxiety#:~:text=While%20it's%20a%20common%20and,et%20al.%2C% 202018).
  5. Barlow, D. H. (2002). Anxiety and its disorders: the nature and treatment of anxiety and panic (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford  Press.
  6. Bhattacharya, A. (2018). Creating that Sense of Belonging.
  7. Benes, S. (2020). Theory of Human Motivation. This is an excerpt from Essentials of Teaching Health Education with Web Resources.  https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/theory-of-human-motivation.
  8. Brown, L. (2018) A Review of Separation Anxiety Disorder With A Focus On Research Based Intervention Strategies, University Of  Northern Iowa, USA.
  9. Carson, J. (2015). Self-Esteem in Elementary School Children, Western Michigan University.
  10. Chapman, L. K., Petrie, J., Vines, L., & Durrett, E. (2012). The co-occurrence of anxiety disorders in African American parents and  their children. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 26, 65-70.
  11. Chia, K. (2021). Ways for Improving Childcare and Kindergarten Safety, Childcare Renovation,  https://www.childcarerenovation.com/kindergarten-safety/.
  12. Costello, E. J., & Angold, A. (1995). Epidemiology. In J. S. March (Ed.), Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents (pp. 109-124).  New York: Guilford Press.
  13. Cunningham, B. (2019). The importance of Positive Self-esteem for Kids. DepEd Order No. 47, s. 2016 Omnibus Policy on  Kindergarten Education.
  14. Doe, J. (2019). Socialization and Separation Anxiety in Kindergarten: A Longitudinal Study,” published in the Journal of Educational  Psychology in October 2019. 
  15. Fabes, R. (2021). The Role of Safety Needs in Separation Anxiety Among Young Children: A Theoretical Framework. Early Childhood  Research Quarterly, Volume 16, Issue 1, pp. 87-101.
  16. Gerber, A. (2021). Childhood Separation Anxiety and the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Adult Anxiety, University of Carolina, USA.
  17. Gordon, S. (2021). How to Help Kids Who Feel Inferior.
  18. Grobman, L. (2012). Safety Needs and Separation Anxiety in Kindergarten Learners: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Early  Childhood Education, Volume 37, Issue 3, pp. 59-64.
  19. Herren, C., In-Albon, T., Schneider, S. (2013). Beliefs regarding child anxiety and parenting competence in parents of children with  separation anxiety disorder. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 44, 53-60.
  20. Jones, H. (2021). What Is Separation Anxiety? K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum.
  21. Kearney, C. A. (2017). School refusal behavior in youth: A functional approach to assessment and treatment. Washington, DC:  American Psychological Association.
  22. Kruger, P. (2021). School Anxiety in Children: Causes, Signs, and What to Do? University of Pennsylvania, USA,  https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/starting-preschool/issues/school-anxiety/.
  23. Kubala, K. (2022). What to Know About an Inferiority Complex. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/inferiority-complex.
  24. Masi, G., Mucci, M., Millepiedi, S. (2001). Separation anxiety disorder in children and adolescents: epidemiology, diagnosis, and  management, CNS Drugs, 15, 93-104.
  25. McElroy, M. (2015). Children’s Self-Esteem Already Established By Age 5, New Study Finds, University Of Washington, USA.  https://www.washington.edu/news/2015/11/02/childrens-self-esteem-already-established-by-age-5-new-study-finds/.
  26. Morris, K. L. (2018). The Importance of Socialization in Early Childhood, https://mppfc.org/the-importance-of-socialization-in-early  childhood/#:~:text=By%20socializing respect%20others.
  27. Muller, L. (2016). Separation Anxiety Within the School Context: A Qualitative Study of the Beliefs and Practices of Parents and  Teachers
  28. Nall, R. (2023). What is separation Anxiety Disorder?
  29. Parke, R.D. (2017). The Importance of Socialization for Kids, International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. https://childrenscampus.com/blog/importance-socialization-kids/.
  30. Plumptre, E. (2022). What is an Inferiority Complex? https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-the-inferiority-complex 5186892.
  31. Quimson, L. (2018). Prevalence of Separation Anxiety Among Kindergarten Learners in Cuyapo East and West Districts, Pangasinan  State University, Open University Systems, The Southeast Asian Journal of Science and Technology.
  32. Rivera, D. (2019). Creating a Sense of Belonging for Children with Parental https://childwatch.com/blog/2019/12/10/creating-a-sense of-belonging-for-children/.
  33. Robinson, J. (2021). How How to Help Your Child Get Rid of an Inferiority Complex? https://www.positiveaction.net/blog/how-to help-your-child-get-rid-of-an-inferiority-complex.
  34. Robinson, L. (2020). Separation Anxiety and Separation Anxiety Disorder.
  35. Schuster, K. (2016). How Does Anxiety Affect Kids in School?
  36. Segal, J. (2023). What is separation anxiety? https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/separation-anxiety-and-separation-anxiety disorder.htm#text=to30%step20out-common%30causes.or%30causes.
  37. Shrier, C. (2014). Kindergarten readiness: Social and Emotional Development, Michigan State University Extension,  https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/kindergarten_readiness_social_and_emotional_development.
  38. Smith, M. (2023). Separation Anxiety and Separation Anxiety Disorder. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/separation anxiety-and-separation-anxiety
  39. disorder.htm#:~:text=to%20step%20out,Common%20causes,or%20upset%20their%20normal%20routine.
  40. Wisner, W. (2019). Inferiority Complex: Definition, Causes, Signs, & Treatment https://www.talkspace.com/blog/inferiority-complex what-is/

Tools


Copyright © 2025  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic