The Hidden Damage of Family Separation

Key points

Early attachment relationship(s) ensure protection and provide the context for future development.

Sudden and prolonged separation from the primary attachment figure constitutes a trauma for children.

Family separation can lead to a dysregulated response to stress and difficulty forming new relationships.

The separation of young children from their parents happens for many reasons, including death, divorce , incarceration, natural disasters, and immigration policy. The circumstances that disrupt or sever the attachment may differ, but the potential for lasting wounds is almost always present. As a society, we underestimate the way disrupted attachments can undermine a child’s sense of self and affect their future relationships.

Children’s early attachment to their prima