Final answer:
Separation anxiety in children typically begins around 8 months old, in line with the development of object permanence. As children age, they better handle separation, although events like divorce can still cause anxiety. By 2-4 years old, children's growing self-concept helps them separate from parents with less anxiety.
Step-by-step explanation:
Separation anxiety typically begins in infancy. According to development theories, such as those of Piaget, signs of stranger anxiety appear around the same time children develop object permanence, which occurs at about 8 months old.
Symptoms of separation anxiety are often observed in infants around this age, characterized by distress and crying when a caregiver is not present or when they are left with unfamiliar individuals. Prior to the development of object permanence, infants tend to show less anxiety as they do not have the memory that people continue to exist when they are not in sight.
Research on children's response to divorce by McLanahan and Sandefur (1994) highlights the challenges that school-aged children face as they comprehend the separation involved in divorce but may not fully understand the reasons behind it. This finding indicates that while children are more resilient against separation anxiety as they grow older, significant life changes like divorce can still trigger anxiety due to the loss of routine and household stability.
By the ages of 2-4, children often establish their self-concept and are increasingly able to separate from parents with little anxiety, indicating that separation anxiety diminishes as children develop a stronger sense of independence and self-sufficiency.