The Impact of Early Maternal Separation on Depression, Anxiety and Attachment Styles in Adulthood

INTRODUCTION: Early maternal separation is a significant stressor with potential long-term consequences for mental health. It is known that early maternal separation affects adult attachment styles as well as psychopathologies such as depression and anxiety.
METHODS: This study investigated the relationship between early maternal separation experiences and adult psychopathology, focusing on attachment styles, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Sixty-one patients presenting with depression and/or anxiety symptoms, and who had experienced maternal separation within the first three years of life, were included and the data was collected retrospectively. Two distinct patterns of early maternal separation were identified: long-term continuous separation and repeated short-term separations. Clinical assessment included the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Adult Attachment Scale (secure, avoidant, anxious-ambivalent).
RESULTS: Maternal separation during the first year of life was associated with significantly higher depression scores. Patients with avoidant attachment showed the highest depression scores, while those with secure attachment demonstrated the lowest. Long-term separation was predominantly associated with avoidant attachment and higher depression scores, while repeated short-term separations correlated with anxious-ambivalent attachment and higher anxiety scores.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the timing, duration, and pattern of early maternal separation significantly influence adult psychopathology and attachment styles, highlighting the importance of early mother-child bonding for mental health outcomes. Further longitudinal research with larger samples is needed to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.