Parent–Child Separation during the First Years of Life: Possible Outcomes in Offspring Development and Parents’ Psychological Functioning

Dear Colleague,

We are pleased to announce a call for papers for an upcoming Special Issue focusing on the critical topic of parent–child separation during the first years of life and its potential implications for offspring development and the psychological functioning of parents. This Special Issue aims to explore the multifaceted aspects of parent–child separation, including various forms of separation, such as temporary separations, parental absence, and institutional or foster care arrangements. We invite researchers and scholars to contribute their original research, empirical studies, and theoretical perspectives on this crucial area of inquiry.

Parent–child separation is a significant event that can occur due to various circumstances, including work-related commitments, military service, divorce or separation, immigration, and parental illness, among others. The experiences of separation can have profound effects on both the developing child and the parent, influencing various domains of their psychological well-being and long-term outcomes. This Special Issue aims to elucidate the potential consequences of parent–child separation during the early years of life, exploring its impact on child development, attachment relationships, socio-emotional functioning, and the psychological well-being of parents.

Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to, the following: Theoretical frameworks and conceptual models related to parent–child separation and its effects on child development and parental psychological functioning; longitudinal studies investigating the outcomes of parent–child separation in infancy and early childhood; the role of attachment theory in understanding the impact of separation on parent–child relationships and subsequent child outcomes; cross-cultural perspectives on parent–child separation and its implications for child and parent well-being; intervention programs and support systems to mitigate the potential negative effects of parent–child separation; factors influencing the adjustment of children and parents during and after separation, such as age, duration, and quality of separation experiences; the interplay between parent–child separation, resilience, and protective factors in promoting positive outcomes; examining the effects of parent–child separation on specific domains of child development, including cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning; exploring the psychological impact of parent–child separation on parents, including stress, anxiety, depression, and coping strategies; and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions thataim to promote healthy parent–child relationships and support both child and parent during and after separation.

Dr. Luca Cerniglia
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• children
• parent–child separation
• offspring development
• attachment
• Parents’ Psychological Functioning