J Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2026 May 9:1-10. doi: 10.2989/17280583.2026.2658535. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The relationship between separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and behavioural inhibition remains unclear. Additionally, aggression and emotional expression in SAD have not yet been systematically studied. This study aimed to investigate behavioural inhibition, aggression, and emotional expression in children with SAD.
METHODS: The study included 30 treatment-naive patients with SAD (46.7% girls) and 30 healthy controls (HC) (33.3% girls), aged 60 to 84 months (70.76±9.44 months). The parents completed the Separation Anxiety Assessment Scale-Parent Version (SAAS-P), the Child Emotion Expressiveness Questionnaire (CEEQ), the Behavioural Inhibition Questionnaire (BIQ), and the Children’s Aggression Scale-Parent Version (CAS-P).
RESULTS: Total and subscale scores of the SAAS-P and BIQ were significantly higher in patients with SAD. Conversely, the SAD and HC groups’ CEEQ and CAS-P subscale scores did not differ significantly. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine whether behavioural inhibition predicts SAD status. The BIQ score significantly and positively predicted SAD status (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04-1.14, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Behavioural inhibition was significantly associated with SAD. Early recognition and intervention for behavioural inhibition can alter the development and course of the disorder.
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