The Effects of Separation from Parents on Children

Abstract

More than a million children are separated from their parents by government authorities. We review the research on the effects of separation, including separation for parental maltreatment, adoption, illegal immigration, parental incarceration, and Indigenous status. The effects were universally negative, did not differ by reason for separation, and included neurological change from psychological trauma, precocious sexual maturity, physical and sexual abuse, neglect, academic delay, poor peer relations, psychosomatic symptoms, psychiatric disorder, and behavior problems such as depression, anxiety, delinquency, self-harm, substance abuse, and inappropriate sexual behavior. There were indications that separation led to intergenerational cycles of family separation. The research indicated that children are most vulnerable from 9 months to 9 years of age. We suggest that the negative effects of separation be considered explicitly when courts make placement decisions. Professionals who can reduce children’s suffering from separation are legislators, policy makers, social workers, mental health professionals, attorneys, and judges.