• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.79-83
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• 2009

Exposure to early stressful adverse life events such as maternal and social separation plays an essential role in the development of the nervous system. Adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats that were separated on postnatal day 14 from their dam and litters (maternal social separation, MSS) showed hyperactivity and anxiolytic behavior in the open field test, elevated plus-maze test, and forced-swim test. Biologically, the number of astrocytes was significantly increased in the prefrontal cortex of MSS adolescent rats. The hyperactive and anxiolytic phenotype and biological alteration produced by this MSS protocol may provide a useful animal model for investigating the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders of childhood-onset diseases, such as attention deficient hyperactive disorder.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.119-131
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• 1996

The relationship of maternal separation anxiety, availability of support system and child gender to initial preschool adjustment was examined. Data were collected on 72 middle-class Korean children(35 boys, 37 girls) between the ages of 31 months and 60 months who were entering preschool. Subjects were from intact families, all with non-working mothers. Mothers completed the Maternal Separation Anxiety Scale(MSAS) and indicated the number of extended family members in the home as an index of social support. Classroom teachers completed the Preschool Behavior Questionnaire (PBQ) for each child after the first 2 weeks and again after 6 weeks of school. Each child was observed by the research team during the first 2 weeks of school and again after the 6th-week using the Child Observation System (COS). Applying the COS observed behavior was classified as being in the dependent, neutral, or active mode. All instruments were culturally relevant as validated by Korean experts. Maternal Separation Anxiety was a significant predictor for girls only, accounting for 11% of initial COS variance (p=＜.05). In contrast, social support was a significant predictor for boys only, accounting for 28% of initial PBQ variance when entered after MSAS(p=.005). A significant difference between initial and 6th-week adjustment was obtained in the expected direction on the COS with behavior improving with time (t=-4.06, p=.001). Although a significant difference between initial and 6th-week PBQ adjustment was also obtained (t=-3.63, p=.001), it was not in the direction expected, problematic behavior were found to increase with time. Cultural and developmental factors help explain the findings. Given the patrilineal social system in Korea, boys are highly preferred over girls. Thus the at-home support system, comprised primarily of grandparents, may have a significant influence on school adjustment particularly of first-born sons. In contrast, since girls are viewed as fragile and vulnerable, mothers may express greater separation anxiety about girls. Finally, as would be expected, older children may be able to develop coping skills more readily than younger ones, as child adjustment on the COS significanlty improved over the 6-week period.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2006

Objectives : Alteration of hippocampus was demonstrated in the maternal social separation(MSS) pups, separated from dams on postnatal day(pnd) 14 and placed alone. Therefore, to understand the molecular events involved in the MSS, we have initiated a search for gene profiles that are up or down-regulated in the hippocampus of MSS pups. Methods : Analysis of cDNA microarray was performed by using total RNA extracted from the hippocampus of control and MSS pups on pnd 17. Also, passive-avoidance test was demonstrated on pnd 35. Results : Up-regulation of Nedd4a was observed in the hippocampus of MSS pups. Also, MSS rats showed less elongation of latency in passive avoidance test. Conclusion : We suggest that environmental effects of MSS may be altered the neural and/or glial differentiation and synapse formation-related genes which may lead cognitive alterations in MSS rats.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.65-78
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• 2008

This study examined whether parental psychological control influences adolescents' depressive feelings through personality features of dependency and self-criticism. Participants were 315 high school students (M=16 years) who completed questionnaires tapping two types of parental psychological control and student personality and depressive symptoms. Both girls and boys perceived equal levels of maternal and paternal separation-anxious psychological control. Boys perceived higher achievement- oriented psychological control of fathers than mothers; girls perceived equal levels of maternal and paternal achievement-oriented control. Structural relations between types of psychological control, personality features, and depressive symptoms were equivalent for both mothers and fathers and for both boys and girls. Results confirmed that separation-anxious and achievement-oriented control have negative effects on adolescents' adjustment through differential pathways; dependency and self-criticism, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.71-84
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to analyse how the separation anxiety of mothers and children influences on the children's peer competence through mother's overprotection. The subjects of this study were 302 children and their mothers, three to five years old who attended at educare centers and kindergartens which were located in Cheongju city and Daejeon city. The results of this research were as follows: First, there were differences in the separation anxiety of mothers and children, maternal overprotective behavior, and children's peer competence according to the social demographic backgrounds. Second, the separation anxiety of mothers and children influenced on mother's sheltering behavior and babying behavior. Third, mothers' sheltering behavior mediated the relationship between mothers' and children's separation anxiety and children's prosocial behavior. It also appeared that mothers' babying behavior mediated the relationship between the separation anxiety of mothers and children and children's initiative.