Severe Separation Anxiety and Potential Depression in Toddlers - Pediatrics

Dr. Cai Zhengxian reply Pediatrics

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Hello, Mr.
Zhang: Have you heard of "infant temperament"? Every infant has their own "temperament." From the very first day of life, each child exhibits different characteristics; some children cry a lot, while others are always smiling; some are constantly active, while others are very quiet; some have regular routines, while others do not follow any patterns.
These innate characteristics are what we refer to as "temperament." Please do not worry; your little daughter does not have depression; rather, her temperament is more sensitive and exhibits a more withdrawn avoidance style, which is quite different from your older daughter's temperament.

To assess infant temperament, we can look at the following nine aspects: The manifestations of "temperament" can be divided into nine categories: 1.
Activity level refers to the frequency and rhythm of a child's activity throughout the day.
Children with high activity levels may easily cause disruptions or interfere with others.
2.
Regularity refers to the consistency of physiological phenomena such as sleep duration, eating, and elimination patterns.
Children with irregular routines can cause significant distress for parents.
3.
Approach/withdrawal refers to a child's initial response to new people, situations, or foods, indicating whether they exhibit an "accepting" or "withdrawn" attitude.
Withdrawn children may be mistakenly perceived as timid or uninterested.
4.
Adaptability refers to how easily a child adjusts to new experiences or situations after their initial response, whether accepting or withdrawn.
Children with low adaptability may find it challenging to establish new habits or adjust to new environments and social settings.
5.
Sensory threshold refers to the amount of stimulation required to elicit a response from the child, including visual, auditory, taste, olfactory, and social cues (the ability to read social situations).
Children with low sensory thresholds are very sensitive, while those with high thresholds may be misunderstood as dull or inattentive.
6.
Reaction intensity refers to the degree of response a child exhibits to external or internal stimuli.
Children with high reaction intensity may express joy with loud shouts and jumping or cry loudly when upset, often overwhelming others and leading to misinterpretation of their intentions.
In contrast, children with low reaction intensity may have subtle emotional responses that go unnoticed and are often overlooked.
7.
Emotional quality refers to the proportion of time a child exhibits happiness, friendliness, and pleasantness versus unhappiness, unfriendliness, and unpleasantness during their waking hours.
Cheerful children are generally well-liked, while frowning children may be misunderstood as angry, which can affect their social relationships.
8.
Distractibility refers to how easily a child is disrupted by external stimuli while engaged in an activity.
Children who are easily distracted may struggle with learning effectiveness.
9.
Persistence refers to the degree to which a child continues to pursue an activity despite encountering obstacles.
Children with low persistence may give up easily when faced with difficulties, while those with high persistence can be quite stubborn, which can sometimes be challenging for parents.
Temperament is not inherently "good" or "bad." The descriptions above focus on aspects that may cause difficulties, but in certain situations, they can also be advantageous traits.
For example, children with low persistence may be less stubborn and more agreeable, while children with high reaction intensity may express their emotions clearly, giving a more cheerful impression.
If parents understand their child's temperament, they can better comprehend why a child behaves a certain way in specific situations, helping to eliminate unreasonable expectations and allowing for more appropriate guidance and nurturing based on the child's characteristics.
If you require further professional assessment, you are welcome to consult with experts at a pediatric mental health clinic (such as the Children's Mental Health Department at Taipei City Hospital) for a questionnaire survey.
Tainan City Hospital cares about you and your baby's health!

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Reply Date: 2005/07/18