Final answer:
The most likely cause of school phobia in a 7-year-old child is A) a fear of being separated from the parent, which stems from separation anxiety issues. Other factors can contribute to school avoidance, but separation anxiety is a significant factor in early childhood. Anxiety and OCD can also play a role by exacerbating concerns about attending school and social interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is focused on understanding the potential cause of school phobia in a 7-year-old child. Among the options provided, the most likely cause of school phobia in a child is a fear of being separated from the parent. This fear is related to attachment and separation issues, which are common in early childhood. A young child may experience intense anxiety at the idea of being away from their parents or primary caregivers when attending school. While other factors like academic performance, language barriers, or boredom can also contribute to school avoidance, separation anxiety is a well-documented phenomenon observed in early childhood education and child development.
For instance, Jean Piaget noted that children develop stranger anxiety, which can be associated with a fear of unfamiliar environments like a new school setting. Erik Erikson also highlighted the elementary stage as a period when children compare themselves to peers and develop a sense of competence or inferiority. Mental health disorders such as anxiety and OCD can exacerbate school phobia by making it difficult for a child to attend school comfortably, interfering with sleep, and causing distress about being around other people.